Overview: Cartilage
- Cartilage is specialized connective tissue with a firm extracellular matrix and cells called chondrocytes.
- Avascular means lacking blood vessels, and cartilage is avascular even though nearby connective tissue may contain vessels.
- Specialized fibrous connective tissue means cartilage is a connective tissue whose matrix is adapted for support, resistance to compression, and flexible shape maintenance.
- Extracellular matrix in cartilage is firmer and less pliable than the matrix of connective tissue proper.
- Pliable means easily bent or shaped, so cartilage matrix is less pliable because it is built for firmer support.
- Chondrocytes are mature cartilage cells embedded inside the cartilage matrix.
- Embedded cells in cartilage are surrounded by matrix rather than packed tightly against neighboring cells.
- Perichondrium is the connective-tissue covering that surrounds most cartilage.
- Chondroblasts are cartilage-forming cells located in the perichondrium and involved in matrix production.
- Chondrogenic cells are cartilage precursor cells that can become chondroblasts.
- Soft tissue support is a major cartilage function because cartilage can hold shape without being as rigid as bone.
- Long bone development depends on cartilage because many long bones begin as cartilage models before bone replaces them.
- Long bone growth depends on cartilage at epiphyseal plates, where cartilage growth contributes to lengthening before replacement by bone.
- Hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage are the three major cartilage types.
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