Histology of Cartilage

Question 1

What is cartilage?

Answer 1

Semi rigid, flexible, vascular form of specialised connective tissue
Capable of growth and remodel

Question 2

Role of cartilage?

Answer 2

Supleot in tissues, organs and act as a scaffold for bone development
High resistance to tension, compression and shearing forces

Question 3

What is connective tissues?

Answer 3

Few cells embedded in extensive extracellular matrix permeated by CT fibres of varying types and orientations, depending on location and function

Question 4

Where are chondrocytes derived from?

Answer 4

Form embryonic, undifferentiated CT called the mesenchyme

Forming chondroblasts and then chondrocytes

Question 5

Constituents of CT?

Answer 5

Cells, ECM and fibres

Question 6

Chondroblasts? Characteristics?

Answer 6

Metabolically active
Secretes ECM
Nuc round
Cytoplasm filled with RER, golgi and mito
Glycogen granules

Question 7

Chondrocytes? Characteristics?

Answer 7

Surrounded by matrix
Icxuoly small lacunae
Less active
Smaller nuc and less RER
Accujulatenlarge lipid droplets

Question 8

Constituents of intracellular matrix?

Answer 8

Ground substance and fibres

Question 9

Intracellular matrix? Characteristics?

Answer 9

Col II
Contains elastin fibres
Fibres embedded into a water perm semi rigid ground substance
Chem features of a gel and fibre give cartilage unique mech prop
Dissolved salts held in long interwoven proteiglyxan molecules

Question 10

Col II found?

Answer 10

Carriage, notochord, Nuc polypous of intervertevral discs, vitreous body and corneal stroma

Question 11

Hylaine cartilage? Characterisitics?

Answer 11

Glass and firm consistency
Nasal, laryngeal, coastal and tracheobronchial
Cells flat near prrichondrium but rounded deep
Cell nests form 2-4 cells

Question 12

Fibrocartilage? Characterisitics?

Answer 12

Dense tissues assoc with fibroblasts
Chondrocytes ovkud and surrounded concentrically strained matrix
Col I in matrix
Symphyses and intevertebral discs

Question 13

Elastic cartilage? Characteristics?

Answer 13

Typical chondrocytes but matrix has preponderance of elastic fibres
Oxytalab forms fibre framework which us impregnated by elastin
Vibrational function
External ear and epiglottis

Question 14

Method of cartilage nutrition?

Answer 14

Avascular however contains cartilage channels that allow nutrients from far blood vessels and also diffusion

Question 15

Growth and regeneration of cartilage?

Answer 15

Interstitial growth: from within by mitosis of early chondroblasts
Appostional growth: at surface by division of perichondral cells

Regeneration depends on nutrition, hormonal environment and age

Low antigenicity of matric and low vascularity allows transplantation