Cartilage Flashcards
What is the perichondrium? Is this loose or dense connective tissue?
The perichondrium is the thin layer that covers the main body of cartilage, producing chondroblasts which later mature into chondrocytes - it is a dense connective tissue
Name 4 places in the human body where elastic cartilage is found.
Pinna (external ear)
Epiglottis
External acoustic meatus
Eustachian tube
Which type of cartilage is the only type not to be surrounded by a layer of perichondrium?
Fibrocartilage
Cartilage growth typically originates at the periphery. What is this type of growth better known as?
Appositional growth from the perichondrium
In what structure do chondrocytes lie?
A lacuna
What type of fibres does elastic cartilage contain that other types of cartilage do not?
Elastin fibres
How do chondrocytes within fibrocartilage tend to be arranged?
In rows
Does hyaline cartilage calcify with age? Does elastin cartilage?
Hyaline cartilage calcifies with age, however elastin cartilage does not
What type of collagen is most prominent in hyaline cartilage?
Type II collagen
What 2 tissues is fibrocartilage made up of? What 2 cell types does it contain?
Fibrocartilage is made up of dense regular connective tissue and hyaline cartilage - it contains chondrocytes and fibroblasts
What is a group of chondrocytes commonly called?
An isogenous group
What is endochondral ossification?
Endochondral ossification is the replacement of a pre-existing hyaline cartilage template with bone, and is the way in which most bones in the body are eventually formed
Define a synovial joint?
A moveable joint in which the juxtaposed bone ends are covered by either by hyaline or fibrocartilage, and which lie within lubricating synovial fluid
In a developing long bone, which is the first part of the cartilage template that becomes calcified?
The centre
Briefly describe the stages of endochondral ossification.
Chondrocytes proliferate and form columns - eventually, these chondrocytes hypertrophy and degenerate - these become mineralised, leaving behind calcified cartilage spicules - osteoblasts lay down bone on these spicules
Do the juxtaposed bones of a synovial joint ever make contact?
No
What type of cartilage lines the epiphysis of bones at a synovial joint?
Articular (hyaline) cartilage
What resides in a synovial cavity?
Synovial fluid
What tissue of the synovial joint is continuous with the perichondrium of bone?
The fibrous capsule of the synovial joint
What is osteoarthritis?
The wearing down of cartilage at a joint, exposing the 2 juxtaposed bones - bones may then rub against each other, causing inflammation and pain
Briefly, describe the pathogensis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Dunno m8
What is the underlying pathology of osteoarthritis?
In osteoarthritis the cartilage of a joint is degenerated and lost, meaning the 2 juxtaposed bones meet and rub together - this causes severe pain and inflammation
Describe the vascularity of cartilage.
It is avascular (innervated by no vessels)
What secretes the extracellular matrix within cartilage?
Chondrocytes
