Bone Flashcards
What is cartilage surrounded by?
A membrane called the pericondrium
What causes the strength in cartilage?
Collagen fibres
What causes the resilience in cartilage?
Chondroitin sulfate
What is cartilage nourished by?
Diffusion of gases and nutrients
Are lymphatic vessels or blood vessels present in cartilage?
No
What does cartilage consist of?
- Cells
- Fibers
- Matrix
What type of cells are present in cartilage?
Chondrocytes
Where do cells occur in cartilage?
Within spaces in the matrix called lacunae
What do fibres consist of?
A dense network of collagen and/or elastin fibres
What is the matrix in cartilage composed of?
- Proteoglycans
- Ground substance
What is it called when a structure has no blood vessels?
Avascular
Where is the only place where blood vessels/nerves are present in cartilage?
Perichondrium
What is the function of mesenchymal cells in bone?
Differentiate into chondroblasts
What is the function of chondroblasts?
Synthesise ground & substance & matrix (cartilage)
What are chondrocytes embedded in?
In matrix
What type of cells are chondrocytes
Mature cells
What is the term for the formation of cartilage?
Chondrification
NB!! What are the 5 steps in the formation of cartilage?
- Mesenchymal cells differentiate chondroblast
- Chondroblasts proliferate & synthesise ground substance & fibrous extracellular matrix
- Chondroblasts separate into spaces (lacunae)
- More divisions form clusters (isogenous grps)
- These chondrocytes are embedded in extracellular matrix
What is the term for when cartilage is replaced by bone?
Ossification
In embryogenesis where is the skeletal system derived from?
Mesoderm germ layer
In embryogenesis what is most of the skeleton comprised of?
Cartilage
Name the two methods of growth in cartilage
- Appositional
- Interstitial
What is appositional growth?
An increase in girth or width
What is an interstitial growth?
An increase in length
What happens during appositional growth?
Chondroblasts deposit collagen/matrix on surface of pre-existing cartilage
What is interstitial growth specific for?
For endochondral bone formation
What happens during interstitial growth?
Chondrocytes divide and secrete matrix from within their lacunae
Where do chondrocytes occupy?
Hallow space
What are chondrocytes surrounded by?
By its own secreted matrix
What do chondrocytes synthesise?
- Ground substance
- Fibrous elements
What does elastic cartilage contain?
Many elastic fibres
Where is elastic cartilage present?
In ear and epiglottis
What can elastic cartilage tolerate?
Repeated bending
What is the most abundant cartilage?
Hyaline cartilage
What is the appearance of hyaline cartilage?
Glassy
What does hyaline cartilage provide?
Support through flexibility
Where is hyaline cartilage present (x 5)?
- Articular cartilages
- Costal cartilage
- Larynx
- Trachea
- Nose
Where is fibrocartilage present (x 2)?
- Intervertebral discs
- Pubic symphysis
What can fibrocartilage resist?
Strong compression and strong tension
What is fibrocartilage in comparison to other cartilages?
An intermediate between hyaline and elastic cartilage
Does cartilage have many repair capabilities?
No, limited
Damage of elastic and fibrocartilage
Show less damage or ageing
Damage of hyaline cartilage
Easily damaged & has limited repair
Damage of articular cartilage
Do not repair
What can’t chondrocytes bound in hallow spaces do?
They cannot migrate to damaged areas to make new matrix
What is damaged cartilage replaced by?
By fibrocartilage scar tissue
Are they any issues of rejection in cartilage transplantation?
No
Why are there/ aren’t there any issues of rejection in cartilage transplantation?
no issues of rejection because:
- Antigenic power of cartilage is low
- Immune system cells poorly diffuse cartilage
Give five diseases of cartilage
- Arthritis
- Dwarfism
- Herniated disk
- Tumors
- Scurvy
What happens in arthritis?
Degeneration of cartilage joints (articular cartilage)
What happens in dwarfism?
Reduced proliferation of chondrocytes
What happens in a herniated disk?
Ruptures disk cartilage ring, pushing into spine
What happens in tumours?
Cartilage cells give rise to benign (chondroma) tumours.
Do malignant tumours usually occur in cartilage?
No, in bone
What causes scurvy?
Lack of vitamin c required to process collagen
What does scurvy cause?
Defective cartilage and bone
Why is vitamin c required by cartilage?
To process collagen
How many bones are in adults?
206
How many bones are in infants?
About 300
Give six functions of bones
- Support, Movement and Protection
- Hematopoiesis
- Mineral storage
- Acid-base balance
- Detoxification
- Sound transduction
What occurs in hematopoiesis?
Red blood cells produced in red bone marrow
What occurs in mineral storage?
A calcium reservoir maintains calcium and phosphorus equilibrium