Cartilage Flashcards
Describe cartilage.
A semi-rigid, flexible connective tissue. It is a scaffold for bone development. It supports tissues and organs. It has high mechanical strength.
Why does cartilage need to obtain nutrition by long-range diffusion?
It is avascular and anueral.
What two cells exist in cartilage?
Chondroblasts and chondrocytes.
What components exist in the cartilage extracellular matrix?
Water, a mixture of molecules in a gel-like ground substance, and fibres (Type II collagen; elastin).
Describe the structure of chondroblasts.
Immature cells derived from mesenchyme cells. They are small, often flat or irregular shaped.
What function do chondroblasts have?
They secrete extracellular matrix and fibres.
How are chondrocytes made?
Chondroblasts enlarge with age and surrounds itself in the matrix.
Describe the structure of chondrocytes.
Mature cells derived from chondroblasts. Has a smaller nucleus. Grouped in lacunae within the matrix. They often accumulate large lipid droplets intracellularly.
What function do chondrocytes have?
They secrete extracellular matrix (less than chondroblasts).
What three components exist in the gel-like ground substance of the extracellular matrix?
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), proteoglycans, and glycoproteins.
Describe the structure of GAGs.
Long unbranched polysaccharides. Highly polar.
Describe the structure of proteoglycans.
A protein core with one or more GAGs around it.
Describe the structure of glycoproteins.
Has more proteins than carbohydrates.
What are the three types of cartilage?
Hyaline, fibrocartilage, and elastic cartilage.
What does hyaline cartilage look like?
Glassy - the weakest type of cartilage.
