Histology: Connective Tissue- Adult Connective Tissue- Cartilage

Question 1

What is the most common type of cartilage?

Answer 1

hyaline cartilage

Question 2

What is the composite structure of cartilage?

Answer 2

extracellular matrix

Question 3

What is the fibrous part of the ECM connected to?

Answer 3

cartilage cells

Question 4

What are the fibers and cartilage cells connected to?

Answer 4

high-molecular protein-polysaccharide complexes of the ground substance.

Question 5

What causes the cartilage to be resistant to compression?

Answer 5

the high concetration of hydrophilic molecules in the extracellular matrix ensures high hydration.

Question 6

What does hyaline cartilage form?

Answer 6

most of the fetal skeleton and prevails after the transformation into bone tissue (eg. in the form of joint and rib cartilage).

Question 7

Why is elastic cartilage elastic?

Answer 7

dur to the presence of elastin

forms the support of the epiglottis or the auricle

Question 8

What type of cartilage predominates in hyeline and elastic cartilage?

Answer 8

type II cartilage

Question 9

What does fibrous cartilage resemble? Why?

Answer 9

• resembles: dense irregular collagenous tissue
• due to the presence of thick bundles of collagen fibers (type I)

Question 10

What does fibrous cartilage form? Why?

Answer 10

• it is very strong
• intervertebral disks, joint discs and menisci.

Question 11

What are features of mature cartilage?

Answer 11

• low metabolism
• doesnt contain vessels (avascular)
• nutrition is ensured via diffusion from the surface of the fibrous layer (perichondrium).

low metabolic demands = low healing ability