SPECIALIZED
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
CARTILAGE
and
BONE
Ted Lane
May 2007
TYPES of CARTILAGE
Hyaline Cartilage
strong, hard, smooth
covers articular surfaces of bones
forms embryonic/fetal bone models
Elastic Cartilage
flexible
forms external ear, tip of nose
Fibrocartilage
strong, shock absorber
intervertebral discs, menisci, articular discs
Hyaline Cartilage
Pink and purple, H and E stain
Fine, type II collagen fibers not visible
Smooth matrix
abundant ground substance covering fibers
Clamshell appearance
large chondrocytes and empty lacunae in middle
Surrounded by obvious perichondrium
Elastic Cartilage
Black or brown, no H and E stain
Elastic fibers visible with special stain
Collagen fibers not visible
Large chondrocytes and empty lacunae in middle
Surrounded by perichondrium
Fibrocartilage
Parallel bundles of coarse, type I collagen fibers
Rows of chondrocytes between collagen bundles
Similar in appearance to dense regular C.T.
but lacunae often visible
Often found between dense regular C.T. and hyaline cartilage
No perichondrium
Ground Compact Bone usually unstained
Many Haversian systems (osteons) visible
central canal surrounded by concentric rings of lacunae
Usually dead, so osteocytes missing from lacunae
Canaliculi visible from lacunae in each osteon
Concentric lamellae may be visible
Occasional Volkmann’s canal visible
running between central canals
Periosteum around outside of whole bone
often missing from section
Decalcified Compact Bone
Calcium removed, leaving organic matrix and cells
Central canals of osteons obvious
Many osteocytes visible in lacunae
Canaliculi usually not visible
Concentric lamellae (of organic matrix) readily visible
Periosteum around outside of whole bone
often missing from section
LOW POWER VIEW OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
LOW POWER VIEW OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
ADIPOSE TISSUE
PERICHONDRIUM
YA LINE E
H ILAG
R T
CA
PERICHONDRIUM
ADIPOSE TISSUE
MEDIUM POWER VIEW OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
MEDIUM POWER VIEW OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
ADIPOCYTES
ND RIU M
ICH O
PER
I LA GE
C ART
LI NE
HYA
ND RIU M
ICH O
PER
NUCLEUS ADIPOCYTE
HIGH POWER VIEW OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
FIBROBLASTS
PERICHONDRIUM
CHONDROGENIC CELLS
CHONDROBLASTS
EDGE OF
CARTILAGE
CHONDROCYTES
LACUNAE
HIGH POWER VIEW OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
INTER-TERRITORIAL
MATRIX
BASOPHILIC
TERRITORIAL MATRIX
ISOGENOUS GROUPS
HIGH POWER VIEW OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
ANOTHER HIGH POWER VIEW
OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
.
.
PERICHONDRIUM
.
.
ANOTHER HIGH POWER VIEW
OF COSTAL CARTILAGE
LOW POWER VIEW OF ELASTIC CARTILAGE
EDGE OF
CARTILAGE
RIUM
HOND
LACUNAE
PERIC
LOW POWER VIEW OF ELASTIC CARTILAGE
HIGH POWER VIEW OF ELASTIC CARTILAGE
ELASTIC FIBERS
ELASTIC FIBERS
LA
CU
NA
E
ELASTIC FIBERS
ELASTIC FIBERS
HIGH POWER VIEW OF ELASTIC CARTILAGE
LOW POWER VIEW OF FIBROCARTILAGE
FIB ERS
L AGEN
COL
. BUN
D LES OF
.
. CO LL AGE
N FIB ERS
.
F
D LES O
CHONDROCYTES BUN
LOW POWER VIEW OF FIBROCARTILAGE
LOW POWER VIEW OF GROUND COMPACT BONE
HAVERSIAN SYSTEMS
VOLKMANN’S CANAL
LOW POWER VIEW OF GROUND COMPACT BONE
MEDIUM POWER VIEW OF HAVERSIAN SYSTEM
LACUNAE
CENTRAL CANAL
. .. . CONCENTRIC
CANALICULI LAMELLAE
MEDIUM POWER VIEW OF HAVERSIAN SYSTEM
HIGH POWER: PART OF HAVERSIAN SYSTEM
.. CONCENTRIC
.
LAMELLAE
LACUNAE CENTRAL
CANAL
CANALICULI
HIGH POWER: PART OF HAVERSIAN SYSTEM
LOW POWER VIEW OF DECALCIFIED BONE
LACUNA
CONCENTRIC
LAMELLAE
CENTRAL CANAL OSTEOCYTE
in
LACUNA
LOW POWER VIEW OF DECALCIFIED BONE
