5.1 - Intro to Cartilage and Bone Flashcards
What are chondroblasts?
Cells that secrete cartilage matrix
What are chondrocytes?
Cells that secreted cartilage matrix and became embedded in it
What type of cell produces cartilage matrix?
Chondroblasts
What type of cell is a component of cartilage matrix?
Chondrocytes
From which embryonic tissue does cartilage originate?
Mesenchyme
From which embryonic tissue do chondroblasts originate?
Mesenchyme
What are the 2 main components of cartilage?
- Cells (chondroblasts and chondrocytes)
2. ECM (collagen and proteoglycan complexes)
What are the 2 types of cells found in cartilage?
- Chondroblasts
2. Chondrocytes
What are the 2 components of cartilage’s ECM?
- Collagen
2. Proteoglycan complexes
Large proteoglycan molecules have numerous side chains of ___.
GAGs (glycosaminoglycans)
GAGs have strong negatively charged surfaces. What is the impact on this re: their water binding properties?
Strongly hydrophilic
Why is water attracted to highly charged molecules?
It is polarized
Why is cartilage well-hydrated?
ECM contains many GAGs, which are negatively charged and attract water molecules
Wet cartilage swells to form a hydrated gel. What restricts the swelling of this gel?
Tension in the collagen network
What is the name for the layer of dense irregular connective tissue surrounding certain types of cartilage?
Perichondrium
What is the perichondrium?
Layer of dense irregular connective tissue surrounding certain types of cartilage
Compare the two layers of perichondrium.
Outer: fibrous, contains fibroblasts, produces collagen
Inner: chondrogenic, undifferentiated, produces chondroblasts or chondrocytes
What is the fetal precursor to bone?
Hyaline cartilage
Most hyaline cartilage in the embryo is replaced by bone. What is the fate of remaining hyaline cartilage?
Forms growth plates and articular cartilage
What tissue is found in nearly all joints, between bones, and in structures that must be deformable, but strong?
Cartilage
What is chondrification?
When mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondroblasts to form cartilage
What is a primary ossification centre?
First area of a bone to start ossifying
What is a secondary ossification centre?
An area of ossification that appears after a primary officiation centre
Compare primary and secondary ossification centres.
Primary: first site of ossification, prenatal development, located on diaphyses
Secondary: appears after primary site, postnasal and adolescent years, located on epiphyses
When do primary ossification centres tend to appear?
Prenatal development
When do secondary ossification centres tend to appear?
Postnatal and adolescent years
On which part of the bone do primary ossification centres usually appear?
Diaphyses
On which part of the bone do secondary ossification centres usually appear?
Epiphyses
In children, primary ossification centres appear in the diaphyses and secondary ossification centres spear in the epiphyses. Which structure separates them?
Epiphyseal growth plate
Bone elongation halts once the growth plates close. How are bones still able to thicken?
Mesenchymal reservoir in the periosteum capable of differentiating into osteoblasts (i.e., intramembranous ossification)
What cells extend the epiphyseal growth plates?
Stacks of proliferating chondrocytes
What are the 4 zones of bone elongation at epiphyseal growth plates?
- Proliferation zone (cartilage cells proliferate, lengthening the bone)
- Hypertrophic zone (older cartilage cells hypertrophy, compressing the matrix)
- Calcification zone (matrix calcifies)
- Ossification zone (osteoblasts lay down osteoid)
Which bones of the developing body are first to ossify?
Clavicles
What is the most commonly broken bone in the body?
Clavicle
Compare the epiphysis, metaphysis, and diaphysis.
Epiphysis: rounded end of a long bone
Metaphysis: narrow portion of the long bone between the epiphysis and diaphysis
Diaphysis: shaft of a long bone
What are the 3 types of cartilage?
- Hyaline
- Elastic
- Fibrocartilage
What type of collagen forms hyaline cartilage?
Type II
What type of collagen forms elastic cartilage?
Type II
What type of collagen forms fibrocartilage?
Type I
What is the most common type of cartilage?
Hyaline
Is cartilage a living tissue?
Yes
Is cartilage innervated?
No
Is cartilage vascularized?
No
Cartilage is living, but avascular. How does it receive its nutrients?
Hyaline/Elastic: diffusion from perichondrium
Fibrocartilage: diffusion from surrounding tissues
What type of connective tissue makes up the perichondrium?
Dense irregular
Hyaline cartilage receives its nutrients via diffusion from the ___.
Perichondrium
Perichondrium is usually found at the margins of hyaline cartilage. Which surface is an exception?
Articular surfaces
Why wouldn’t you find perichondrium lining hyaline cartilage at articular surfaces?
The perichondrium highly vascularized and innervated; the compression and movement in the area would aggravate it
List 2 places where you would find perichondrium.
- Elastic cartilage
2. Hyaline cartilage (except on joint surfaces)
What type of cartilage calcifies with old age?
Hyaline
What is the result of articular cartilage degeneration?
Osteoarthritis
What is the result of articular cartilage destruction by granulating synovial membrane tissue?
Rheumatoid arthritis
What causes a slipped disc?
Rupture of intervertebral disc capsule
What type of cartilage is found in menisci?
Fibrocartilage
How does weight-bearing exercise protect against osteoporosis?
Encourages remodelling
Compare the histological appearance of hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage.
Hyaline: smooth ECM
Elastic: prominent elastic fibres in ECM
Fibrocartilage: prominent collagen fibres in ECM
Compare the location of chondroblasts and chondrocytes.
Chondroblasts: close to perichondrium
Chondrocytes: throughout ECM
Compare the histological appearance of chondroblasts and chondrocytes.
Chondroblasts: flattened, irregular, close to perichondrium
Chondrocytes: ovular, in lacunae, throughout ECM
Which cartilage cell is flat and irregular?
Chondroblasts
Which cartilage cell is ovular and enclosed by lacunae?
Chondrocytes
List 4 places where you would find elastic cartilage. (Hint: all begin with “e.”)
- Eustachian tube
- Ear canal
- External ear
- Epiglottis
What type of cartilage would you find in the Eustachian tube?
Elastic
What type of cartilage would you find in the ear canal?
Elastic