1. Cartilage Properties of Cartilage Matrix Chondrocytes 1. Avascular
Fibers
(collagen Type II,
2. Permeable
Fibers
elastic)
(conducts nutirents
and water)
Ground Substance
3. Flexible but Weight-Bearing
(hyaluronic acid,
(resistance to compression)
chondroitin sulfate,
keritin sulfate,
4. Elasticity and Resiliency
60-70% H2O)
5. Resistance to Shear Forces
6. Slippery
(low friction at articular joints)
Isogenous
7. Poor Regenerative Capacity
Lacunae
Group

3. Hyaline Cartilage Hyaline Cartilage Matrix (amorphous & glassy)
hyaluronic acid
chondroitin sulfate
keratin sulfate
chondrocyte nucleus
H2O (60-78%)
lacuna
Fibers- collagenous
matrix
(invisible due to same
refractive index as matrix)
Typical Locations
Hyaline Cartilage (SEM)
intercostals (connect ribs
to the sternum)
wall of trachea & bronchii
articular cartilage of bone
epiphyseal plate
fetal axial skeleton

4. Fibrocartilage Matrix hyaluronic acid chondroitin sulfate
Fibrocartilage- longitudinal section
Matrix
collagenous fiber bundles
hyaluronic acid
Fibrocartilage- SEM
chondroitin sulfate
keratin sulfate
Fibers
dense collagenous
bundles
Typical Locations
intervertebral discs
Fibrocartilage- transverse section
pubic symphysis
meniscus of knee joint
attach tendons to bone
Properties
resistance to
compression and
shear forces

5. Elastic Cartilage Elastic Cartilage- pinnae of ear Elastic Fibers
Matrix
(resorcin-fuchsin stain)
hyaluronic acid
chondroitin sulfate
kertatin sulfate
Fibers
elastic (elastin)
Typical Locations
external ear
walls of external
auditory canal and
eustachian tubes
Elastic Fibers- silver stain
epiglottis & larynx
bridge of nose
Properties
resiliency and
pliability

6. Growth of Cartilage fibroblasts collagen Perichondrium perichondrium
Appositional
blood vessel
Growth
chondroblasts
(peripheral mitosis
and differentiation
of fibroblasts)
hyaline
matrix
Interstitial
Growth
isogenous
(mitosis of chondro-
groups
cytes and deposition
(nests of
of new matrix)
chondrocytes)
Territorial Matrix