Histology of

Cartilage & Bone

Dr. Suva Nath

BHMS, MSc(Medical Physiology), MHA, PhD(Medicine)

Consultant Physician & Faculty of Medical Sciences

 CARTILAGE
 Modified connective tissue
 Forms skeletal basis of some parts of body
 Matrix is firm giving it the characteristic consistency
 Resists compression
 Avascular (nutrients diffuse through matrix)
 Perichondrium is rich in blood vessels
 PERICHONDRIUM
 Dense irregularly arranged
Fibrous
fibrous tissue layer
 Ensheaths the cartilage Cellular
layer
 Composed of cells & matrix
 Matrix consists of fibres &
ground substance
 Houses the blood vessels that
nourish chondrocytes
 Present in most of the hyaline
& elastic cartilage
 Absent in fibrocartilage
 CHONDROBLAST
 Mesenchymal
(embryologically)
 Progenitor of chondrocytes
 Lines border between
perichondrium and matrix
 Produce the intercellular
matrix and collagen fibres
 Cells which become
imprisoned within this matrix
become chondrocytes.
 CHONDROCYTE
 Mature cartilage cell
 Reside in a space called the lacuna
 Isogenous cell group
 Basophilic
 Clear areas = Golgi and lipid
droplets
 CHONDROCYTE
 Chondrocytes completely fill their
lacunae
 RER and euchromatic nuclei
 Synthetically active, secrete matrix
 Synthesize type II collagen,
proteoglycans and chondronectin. N
RER

Cartilage matrix
 MATRIX
 Provides the rigidity, elasticity, &
resilience
 FIBERS
 Collagenous and elastic

 GROUND SUBSTANCE
 Glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin
sulfates & keratan sulfate)
 Proteoglycans
 Water

 Basophilic
 Territorial matrix
 Interterritorial matrix
CARTILAGE GROWTH
 Interstitial
 Newly formed cartilage grows
by multiplication of cells
throughout its substance.

 Appositional
 Addition of new cartilage over
the surface of existing cartilage.
TYPES OF CARTILAGE

 HYALINE

 ELASTIC

 FIBROUS
CARTILAGE: LOCATIONS
 HYALINE CARTILAGE
 Sites: Tracheal rings, nasal septum,
larynx, costal cartilage & articular
surfaces of joints

 Cartilage cells: Present singly or in

groups of 2 or 4 cells inside lacunae

 Cartilage Matrix: Collagen type II

 Ground substance: Homogenous,

clearly basophilic

 Functions: supportive
 ELASTIC CARTILAGE
 Sites: Auricle, ext. auditory meatus,
auditory tube, epiglottis, apices of arytenoid
cartilage

 Cartilage cells: larger, more

numerous, packed more closely
 Cartilage Matrix: elastic fibres,
collagen type II
 Ground substance: Rich in
elastic fibres
 Functions: supportive with resilience
 Elastic fibers stain with orcein.
 FIBROCARTILAGE
 Sites: intervertebral discs, arytenoid
cartilage (except apices), pubic symphysis,
manubriosternal joint, articular disc of TM
joint.
 Cartilage cells: fewer, smaller, scattered
singly or in rows

 Cartilage Matrix: collagen type I

& II
 Ground substance: acidophilic
 Functions: supportive with tensile
strength

Intervertebral disc
 CLINICAL
APPLICATION
Osteoarthritis

Pseudoachondroplasia
 BONE
 Modified connective tissue
 Highly vascular mineralized connective tissue consisting
of cells and dense intercellular organic matrix
impregnated with inorganic salts.
 Provide support & protection to the vital organs
 Forms skeletal framework
 COMPOSITION
 Cells:
a.Osteogenic cells
b.Osteoblasts
c. Osteocytes
d.Osteoclasts

• Fibers: collagen type I

• Ground Substance: Proteoglycans & glycoproteins

 The matrix
of bone is a
mixture of
organic
(collagen)
and
inorganic
(calcium
phosphate)

90% of bone
is matrix,
with the
remaining
10% made of
osteocytes.
Microscopic Anatomy of Bone
 Lamellar arrangement
· Lamellae
· Rings around the
central canal
· Sites of lacunae

· Lacunae
· Cavities containing
bone cells
(osteocytes)
· Arranged in
concentric rings
 Lamellar arrangement
· Canaliculi
· Tiny canals
· Radiate from
the central
canal to
lacunae
· Form a
transport
system
 COMPACT BONE

 The morphofunctional
unit of the bone is
osteon, or Haversian
system.

 Lamellar pattern of
compact bone:
i. Haversian system
ii.Interstitial lamellae
iii.Circumferential lamellae
T.S. through compact bone

‘Haversian
Systems’
Dark spots are called ‘lacunae’ and
would contain osteocytes in living
bone

Central canal
containing an
artery, vein,
lymph vessel
and nerves
What happens when excessive bending
force compresses the bone…!
c
o
m
p
r force
e
s
s
i
o
n
 CLINICAL APPLICATION

 Scurvy
 Rickets
 Osteomalacia
 Osteoporosis
 Osteogenesis imperfecta

 Pseudoachondroplasia
SAVE YOUR BONES
TAKE HOME MESSAGE

 Aerobic exercises
 Low impact, weight bearing exercises
 Resistance exercises
 REFERENCES
1. diFiore’s Atlas of Histology with functional Correlations, 12 th Edition.

2. Essentials of Anatomy for Dentistry Students,1st Edition.

3. Textbook of Histology, 3rd Edition.

 MCQ
• Fibrous cartilage is present in:

1. Auricle
2. Nose
3. Tracheal rings
4. Intervertebral discs
 Label the following

B
C

Don’t confuse this picture with the Liver Lobule!

 MCQ
• Elastic cartilage is present in:

1. Apices of arytenoid cartilage

2. Epiphysis
3. Tracheal rings
4. Temporomandibular joints
 MCQ
• Hyaline cartilage is present in:

1. Tracheal rings
2. External auditory meatus
3. Semilunar cartilages of knee joint
4. Intervertebral discs
 MCQ
 The blood vessels and nerves go inside the compact bone through:

1. Haversian canal
2. Volkman’s canal
3. Canaliculi
4. Interstitial lamellae