Cartilage is a connective tissue found in many areas of the body including joints, ribs, spine, ears and nose. There are three main types of cartilage - hyaline, fibrocartilage, and elastic cartilage. Hyaline cartilage is the most abundant and found covering bone surfaces in joints. It contains chondrocytes and provides smooth, flexible surfaces for movement. Fibrocartilage is strong and found in intervertebral discs, menisci, and healing fractures. It contains collagen fibers. Elastic cartilage is yellow and found in external ears and epiglottis. It contains an elastic fiber network and maintains the shape of structures.

2. CARTILAGE
STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION
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3. CONTENT:
Define Cartilage
Types Cartilage
Hyaline cartilage structure & function
Fibrocartilage structure & function
Elastic cartilage structure & function

4. Cartilage is an important structural component of the
body. It is a firm tissue but is softer and much more
flexible than bone.
Cartilage is a connective tissue found in many areas of the
body including:
 Joints between bones e.g. the elbows, knees and ankles
 Ends of the ribs
 Between the vertebrae in the spine
 Ears and nose
 Bronchial tubes or airways
CARTILAGE

5. Cartilage is made up of specialized cells called
chondrocytes.
 These chondrocytes produce large amount of
extracellular matrix composed of collagen fibres,
proteoglycan, and elastin fibers.
Instead, nutrients diffuse through a dense
connective tissue surrounding the cartilage (called
the perichondrium) and into the core of the
cartilage.
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6. TYPES
CARTILAGE:
There are three types of cartilage;
Hyaline Cartilage
FibroCartilage
ElasticCartilage

7. Hyaline Cartilage
Where in the body is hyaline cartilage tissue
Hyaline cartilage is the most abundant of the three types of cartilage.
It is found in many locations in the body, including:
•Bronchi, bronchial tubes, costal cartilages, larynx(voice-
box), nose, trachea
•Covering the surface of bones at joints - especially in areas where
damage due to wear may lead to osteoarthritis incl. e.g. the ends of the
long bones, and also the anterior ends of the ribs.
•Embryonic skeleton (i.e. in the fetus).

9. The Structure of hyaline cartilage tissue
• Hyaline cartilage consists of a bluish-white, shiny
ground elastic material with a matrix of chondroitin
sulphate into which many fine collagen fibrils are
embedded.
 It contains numerous chondrocytes.

10. The Functions of hyaline cartilage tissue
 Hyaline cartilage tissue provides smooth surfaces,
enabling tissues to move/slide easily over each other,
e.g. facilitating smooth movements at joint.
 It is also provides flexibility and support.

11. Fibrocartilage
Where in the body is fibrocartilage tissue
Examples include:
Calli (sing. callus), which is the tissue formed between the ends of
the bone at the site of a healing fracture (blood clot -> granulation
tissue -> cartilage -> bone);
Intevertebral discs (i.e. the discs between the vertebrae of the
spine);
Menisci (cartilage pads) of the knee joint.
Pubic symphysis, which is the position at which the hip bones join
at the front of the body.
.

12. The Structure of fibrocartilage tissue
 Is a tough form of cartilage that consists of
chondrocytes scattered among clearly visible dense
bundles of collagen fibres within the matrix.
 Fibrocartilage lacks a perichondrium.

14. The Functions of fibrocartilage
tissue
• Fibrocartilage tissue provides support
and rigidity to attached/surrounding
structures and is the strongestof the three
types of cartilage.

15. Elastic Cartilage
Where in the body is elastic cartilage tissue ?
 Auditory (Eustachian) Tubes;
 External Ear (Auricle);
 Epiglottis (the lid on the top of the larynx).
The Structure of elastic cartilage tissue
 In elastic cartilage, which is yellowish in colour, the
cartilage cells (chondrocytes) are located in a threadlike network of
elastic fibres within the matrix of the cartilage.

17. The Functions of elastic cartilage
tissue
 Elastic cartilages provides support to surrounding
structures and helps the define and maintain the shape
of the area in which it is present,
.e.g. the external ear.