Collagen Fibers: Constitute about 90% of organic substance, synthesized from vesicles of rough endoplasmic reticulum, predominantly Type I collagen
Ground Substance: Gel-like substances like Proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and other non-collagen proteins like Osteonectin and Osteocalcin, serves as cement substance
Multinucleated giant cells involved in matrix resorption during bone growth and remodeling, formed within etched depressions in bone matrix called "Howship's lacunae"
Most common type, characterized by chondrocytes with elliptical or flattened shape, moderate amount of fine collagenous fibers in abundant ground substance
Intermediate between dense connective tissue and hyaline cartilage, characterized by smaller, flattened chondrocytes lodged between thick bundles of collagenous fibers, with extremely rare amorphous ground substance
Characterized by chondrocyte that are smaller and tend to be flattened but still lodged in lacunae, arranged in rows, in between thick bundle of collagenous fibers so that the amorphous ground substance is extremely rare and appears as acidophilic
There is no identifiable perichondrium in fibrocartilage