CARTILAGE Flashcards
What are three functions of cartilage
Support soft tissues
Provide a smooth gliding surface for bone articulations and joints
Enable the development and growth of long bones
What is cartilage a precursor to
Bone
What are the different types of cartilage
Hyaline cartilage
Elastic cartilage
Fibrocartilage
Where is Hyaline cartilage found
Articular surfaces of bones
Ribs, nose, Trachea
Where is elastic cartilage found
external ear, epiglottis
Where is fibrocartilage found
Inter vertebral disks and certain ligaments
What varies between all three types of cartilage
the proportion and type of extracellular fibers in the martix
What is seen in weight bearing areas of cartilage
Large amounts of collagen making the cartilage inextensible
What is seen in weight bearing areas of cartilage
Lesser amount of collagen and more elastic fibres
Describe the collagen content of hyaline cartilage
Moderate
Describe the collagen content of elastic cartilage
Moderate with lots of elastic fibres
Describe the collagen content of fibrocartilage
High collagen content amongst a limited amount of cells and ground substance
How is cartilage nourished
Via diffusion
How does cartilage gets its blood supply
It is avascular and has no blood vessels, lymphatics or nerves
What membrane surrounds the Cartilage
The Perichondrium
