DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY, PUMS

GENERAL HISTOLOGY (BASIC TISSUES) –

ANA 213

TOPIC:
Cartilage

M. A. AMADI
 CARTILAGE
• A specialized connective tissue composed of cells &
extracellular matrix
• Characteristics
• Supporting connective tissue
• Extracellular matrix enriched with glycosaminoglycans
and proteoglycans that interact with collagen and elastic
fibers
• Tolerates mechanical stress without permanent
distortion
• Resilient to compression
• Avascular
Functions
• Provides firm structural support for soft tissues
• Allows flexibility without distortion
• Shock absorbing & sliding area for joints (smooth
surface)
• Essential for the development & growth of long bones
•Composition:
• Cells
• Extracellular matrix
Cells:
1. Chondrocytes – Derived from chondroblast
– synthesize, secrete & maintain extracellular
matrix
– located in matrix cavities – lacunae

2. Chondroblasts – Mesenchymal cells

– synthesize & secrete extracellular matrix

3. Chondroclasts – multinucleated giant cells involved in

resorption of cartilage
Chondroblasts

Chondrocytes
Extracellular Matrix:
a) Amorphous ground substance
• 1. Glycosaminoglycans – hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate,
keratan sulfate
• 2. Proteoglycans – form proteoglycan aggregates that
interact with collagen & bind the water
• 3. Structural glycoproteins – chondronectin
b) Fibres –
• 1. Collagen type II – fibres are not formed, fibrils with
diameter 20nm
• 2. Collagen type I – form fibers, in fibrocartilage
• 3. Elastic fibers – in elastic cartilage
• - The cartilage matrix
immediately surrounding each
chondrocyte is rich in
glycosaminoglycans & poor in
collagen – territorial or
capsular matrix

• - Matrix located between the

capsules – interrteritorial
matrix
Perichondrium
• Capsule-like sheath of dense connective tissue that surrounds
cartilage
• Harbors the vascular supply for avascular cartilage
• Connects cartilage with the surrounding tissues
• Composed of two layers:
• 1. Fibrous layer (stratum fibrosum): external part, contains
collagen fibres (collagen I), small amount of cells – fibroblasts
• 2. Cellular layer (stratum chondrogenicum): abundant cells –
fibroblasts & chondroblats
• Articular cartilage – covers the surfaces of the bones of movable
joints - is devoid of perichondrium & the nutrition is
accomplished by the diffusion of oxygen & nutrients from the
synovial fluid
Types of cartilage:
1. Hyaline cartilage
2. Elastic cartilage
3. Fibrocartilage
 Hyaline cartilage
• Hyaline cartilage is the most common type.

• In embryos, hyaline cartilage serves as a skeletal model for

most bones.

• As the individual grows, the cartilage bone model is gradually

replaced with bone by endochondral ossification.

• In adults, most of the hyaline cartilage model has been

replaced with bone, except on the articular surfaces of bones,
ends of ribs (costal cartilage), nose, larynx, trachea, and in
bronchi
Matrix
• Type II collagen
• Proteoglycans, Hyaluronic acid
• Capsular or territorial matrix
• Interterritorial matrix
• Lacunae (tiny spaces in the matrix)
• Isogenous cell nest / cell nests (offspring of a common
parent cell).
Seen under microscope
 Hyaline cartilage

Fibrous layer Chondrogenic layer

Perichondrium

Chondroblasts
Cell nest

Matrix

Chondrocyte
in lacuna
Hyaline cartilage- magnified

Terretorial matrix

Interterretorial
matrix

Chondrocyte
in lacuna

Cell nest
Distribution
–Costal cartilage
–Articular cartilage
–Thyroid, cricoid, arytenoid
–Tracheal rings
–Part of nasal septum
–Epiphyseal plate
 Elastic Cartilage
• Has greater flexibility.

• Ground substance possesses, in addition to type II

collagen, abundance of branching & anastomosing
elastic fibres

• No isogenous cell nests.

• Chondrocytes are found in single or in small groups.

Elastic cartilage
Elastic cartilage (as seen under a microscope)
 Elastic cartilage
Chondrogenic layer Fibrous layer

Perichondrium

Chondroblast

Matrix with
elastic fibers

Chondrocyte in the lacuna

Distribution
• Auricle & lateral part of the external acoustic meatus.

• Medial part of auditory tube.

 Epiglottis

Corniculate
Arytenoid

• Epiglottis, corniculate, cuneiform; apical part of arytenoid.

 Fibrocartilage
• It is intermediate between dense connective tissue &
hyaline cartilage
• Present in regions of the body subjected to pulling
forces, characterized by a matrix containing a dense
network of coarse type I collagen fibers.
• Chondrocytes are found in singles or in rows with
bundles of collagen with little matrix.
• No perichondrium.
Fibrocartilage
Fibrocartilage (as seen under a microscope)
Fibrocartilage

Chondrocyte

Matrix
Distribution
• Secondary cartilaginous joints
–intervertebral discs,
–pubic symphysis.
• Articular discs
• Menisci of the knee joint
Growth of Cartilage
• Newly formed chondrocytes synthesize collagen fibrils
& ground substance.
• Growth occurs by two mechanisms:
1. Appositional growth (exogenous growth)
2. Interstitial growth (endogenous growth)
• 1. Appositional growth –
resulting from the differentiation
of perichondrial cells,
chondroblasts of the
perichondrium proliferate &
become chondrocytes; once they
become surrounded with
extracellular matrix, they are
incorporated into the existing
cartilage.
• Thereby causing increase of width
from outside to inside.
• It occurs in mature cartilage
• 2. Interstitial growth
(endogenous growth) - mitotic
division of preexisting
chondrocytes
• 1.during early phases of
cartilage formation
• 2. within the epiphyseal plates
in long bones (increasing the
length)
• 3. within articular cartilage
• It occurs only in young cartilage
(mainly in immature cartilage) &
brings about increase in the
length of cartilage.
1. Oval isogenous groups 2. Columns of isogenous groups during ossification
Regeneration
• Except in young children, damaged cartilage regenerates with
difficulty and often incompletely, by activity of the
perichondrium, which invades the injured area and generates
new cartilage.
• In extensively damaged areas, the perichondrium produces a
scar of dense connective tissue instead of forming new
cartilage.
• Regeneration occurs by appositional growth from
perichondrium; the chondroblasts from perichondrium invade
the damaged area & generate new cartilage in extensively
damaged areas
• The cartilage is replaced by dense connective tissue