Cartilage and Bone Flashcards
Compared to bone, cartilage is…
- Lighter
- About half as dense
- More flexible
Ground substance is much more _____ than _____ in cartilage.
rigid, loose
In cartilage, what do the properties of it depend on?
It depends on the type and abundance of protein fibers and proteoglycan content.
What are the different types of cartilage?
1) Elastic
2) Hyaline
3) Fibrocartilage
What are the characteristics of elastic cartilage?
- Mostly elastic fibers
- Very flexible
- Has a yellowish appearance
Where is elastic cartilage found?
- Outer ear
- Parts of the larynx
What are the characteristics of hyaline cartilage?
- Has a high concentration of densely packed fine collagen fibers
- Tough & resistant to pressure and friction, but somewhat flexible
- It is the most abundant type of cartilage
- It may become bone by ossification
Where is hyaline cartilage found?
- Joint surfaces
- “Buttons” of spinous process of vertebrae
What are the characteristics of fibrocartilage?
- Contains almost all collagen fibers
- There is little ground substance
- Very tough and durable!
Where is fibrocartilage found?
Intervertebral discs
True or False: Cartilage is a lowly specialized extracellular matrix.
FALSE - Cartilage is a highly specialized extracellular matrix.
Is cartilage avascular or highly vascular?
How are the nutrients supplied?
- Avascular (less blood vessels)
- Nutrients are supplied by diffusion
Can cartilage withstand considerable and repetitive stress?
Yes
If cartilage is damaged, how does it heal?
It has limited ability to heal! This is because it’s avascular and lacks blood supply. It also has a limited capacity of chondrocytes that are immobile.
_____ is the most rigid of the connective tissues.
Bone
What does bone contain?
Cells, collagen fibers, and inorganic matrix.
There is a high or low vascular supply in bone?
high!
True or False: There is not a considerable metabolic activity in bone.
FALSE - there is a considerable metabolic activity in bone.
What are some functions of bone?
1) Support
2) Locomotion
3) Protection
4) Mineral Homeostasis
5) Blood Formation
6) Energy Storage
How does bone provide support?
It’s load and stress bearing, but it also allows flexibility for growth.
How does bone provide locomotion?
It serves as levers via joints.
What does the bone protect?
Protects vital organs
What chemicals does mineral homeostasis involve?
Calcium and phosphorous
How does bone provide energy storage?
The yellow bone marrow acts as a storage reserve of fatty acids.
What are the components (and %) of bone?
1) Inorganic - mainly calcium and phosphorous (60%)
2) Organic - collagen, proteoglycans, and non-collagenous proteins (30%)
3) Water (10%)
True or False: Bone is strong, very flexible, and is resistant to shattering.
FALSE - Bone is strong, somewhat flexible, and is resistant to shattering.
What are the types of bone and how are they classified? Give examples of each.
1) Flat and irregular (short bones)
- Ribs
- Skull
- Pelvis
-Vertebrae
- Scapula
2) Long bones
- Femur
- Tibia
- Fibula
Bones are classified by their shape.
What are the types of bone tissue?
1) Compact (cortical)
2) Spongy (trabecular)
What are the characteristics/functions of cortical bone tissue?
- Very dense structure
- Provides rigidity and strength to bone
- Found at the periphery of bones
Is calcium more readily available in compact or spongy bone tissue?
Spongy bone tissue! Calcium is less readily available in compact bone tissue.
What are the characteristics/functions of trabecular bone tissue?
- Has a network of struts/thick netting
- Found in the vertebrae, flat bones, and ends of long bones
Is the organization of bone tissue highly or poorly organized?
Highly organized
What is an osteoblast?
A cell that will produce new bone
What is an osteocyte?
A mature bone cell within the mineralized matrix.
What are osteoclasts?
They are multinucleated and are involved in bone resorption (breakdown) and remodeling.
What are chondrocytes?
Mature cartilage cells
What surrounds the osteocyte?
The lacuna
What are bone lining cells?
Inactive cells on bone surface
