L2.7.2: Cartilage

• • Less hard and more flexible than a bone and is only found in a few places in the body.
  • Chondrocytes: cartilage cell; the major cell type.
  • Also has lacunae that houses the cells.
  • Found in only a few places in the body

  Cartilage (soft tissue or soft bones)
• 3 types of cartilage

  • Hyaline cartilage
  • Fibrocartilage
  • Elastic cartilage
• • most widespread and has abundant collagen fibers hidden by a glassy, rubbery matrix.
  • Forms the trachea, attaches the ribs to the breastbone (costal cartilage), and covers long bone ends at joints (articular cartilage).
  • The skeleton of a fetus is mostly made of hyaline cartilage.


  Hyaline cartilage
• • forms the cushion-like disks between the vertebrae of the spinal column.
  • Highly compressible; tough and strong.
  • Smaller lacunae and chondrocytes which makes it unique from the two cartilage.


  Fibrocartilage
• • found in structures with elasticity such as the external ear.
  • Contains elastic fibers.
  • Highly fibrous
  • Look denser and closer together in a microscope.


  Elastic cartilage