Cartilage Flashcards
Perichondrium
Connective tissue surrounding cartilage:
- Outer fibrous layer (fibroblasts, collagen type I)
- Inner cellular layer (chondrogenic precursors & chondroblasts)
- Blood vessels, nerves, lymphatics
- Repair & appositional growth
- Does NOT surround articular cartilage & fibrocartilage
What is represented in the image
Cartilage with perichondrium
what is depicted in the image
Perichondrium: dense CT sheath that surrounds cartilage. It acts as the capsule of the cartilage. It is formed by a dense layer of CT intermediate between dense irregular and dense regular. It contains abundant blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics, as well as fibroblasts. The inner layer of the perichondrium contains cells that look like fibroblasts, but are really chondroblasts. Chondroblasts will differentiate into chondrocytes
label the arrows depicted in the image?
Label the areas circled blue
Chondrocytes
- fully differentiated ECM-forming cells (low mitotic activity)
- embedded in ECM
Spaces – lacunae Groups – isogenous units
What is depicted in the image ?
Chondrocytes
What is depicted in the image
Isogenous groups
Cells within a single lacuna
What do the green circles depict ?
Chondroblasts
• proliferating undifferentiated cells that begin to synthesize ECM elements
What type of cartilage is this?
Hyaline Cartilage
What type of cartilage is this?
Elastic Cartilage
What type of cartilage is this?
Fibrocartilage
Where is this cartilage located and what type is it ?
Trachea
Hyaline
Hyaline cartilage
Provides support, flexibility, & resilience. The most abundant skeletal cartilage.
- Fibrillar protein phenotype: type II collagen
- Highly hydrated matrix
Present in these cartilages:
- articular – covers the ends of long bones (articular cartilage)
- epiphyseal plates and fetal development
- costal – connects ribs to sternum
- respiratory – makes up larynx/trachea and reinforces air passages
- nasal – supports the nose
Hyaline cartilage function?
provides smooth, low-friction surfaces in joints, structural support for respiratory tract
What type of cartilage is this?
Hyaline
What type of cartilage is this?
Young Hyaline Cartilage
What type of cartilage is this?
Mature Hyaline Cartilage
Where is this cartilage located?
Trachea
What is depicted in the image?
• Covers surfaces of articulating bones in synovial joints. Does not heal (replaced by fibrocartilage scar tissue).
Articular hyaline cartilage is made up of 4 poorly demarcated zones:
- Superficial [SZ] (gliding surface – small rounded chondrocytes parallel to surface)
- Intermediate [IZ] (chondrocytes become larger and slowly change orientation)
- Deep [DZ] (large rounded chondrocytes arranged in vertical column)
- Calcified cartilage [CZ] (separates hyaline cartilage from subchondral bone)
What type of cartilage is this and what does the arrow indicate?
Articular cartilage
-This is not a perichondrium! The superficial zone of articular cartilage may appear dark due to changing matrix characteristics.