Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue composed of chondrocytes and extracellular matrix, functioning to support soft tissues, absorb shock, and facilitate bone movement. There are three main types of cartilage: hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage, each with unique functions and structural characteristics. Cartilage is avascular, grows through interstitial and appositional growth, and is crucial for the development of long bones.

1. Cartilage

2. • Cartilage is a specialized form of connective
tissue.
• it consists of cells (chondrocytes) and
extracellular matrix.

3. • The chondrocytes are found in matrix cavities
called lacunae .
• They synthesize and secrete the extracellular
matrix

4. Functions of cartilage
• The firm consistency of the extracellular
matrix allows the tissue to bear mechanical
stresses without permanent distortion.
• support soft tissues.
• shock-absorbing and sliding area for joints
and facilitates bone movements.
• Cartilage is also essential for the development
and growth of long bones both before and
after birth.

5. • Cartilage is avascular and have no lymphatic
vessels or nerve endings.
• Its surrounded by dense connective tissue the
perichondrium and it gives the vascular,
lymphatic and sensory supply to cartilage .
• Articular cartilage has no perichondrium and
gets the nutrients by diffusion from the
synovial fluid.

6. Types
• According to the functional requirement and
the composition of extracellular matrix there
are 3 types of cartilage:
– Hyaline
– Elastic
– Fibrocartilage.

7. Hyaline cartilage
• The most common type.
• Is found in the articular surfaces of the
movable joints, in the walls of larger
respiratory passages (nose, larynx, trachea,
bronchi), in the ventral ends of ribs, and in the
epiphyseal plate, where it is responsible for
the longitudinal growth of bone.
• The matrix contains collagen fibrils type 2
mainly and macromolecules.

9. • At the periphery of hyaline cartilage, young
chondrocytes have an elliptic shape, with the
long axis parallel to the surface. Farther in,
they are round and may appear in groups of
up to eight cells originating from mitotic
divisions of a single chondrocyte. These
groups are called isogenous.

12. Growth of cartilage
• interstitial growth;
resulting from the mitotic division of preexisting
chondrocytes, it occurs in the epiphyseal plates
of long bones and within articular cartilage.

13. • appositional growth;
Chondroblasts of the perichondrium proliferate
and become chondrocytes once they have
surrounded themselves with cartilaginous
matrix and are incorporated into the existing
cartilage

14. Elastic cartilage
• occurs in the epiglottic cartilage, the
corniculate and cuneiform cartilage of the
larynx, the cartilage of the external ear and
the auditory tube.
• corresponds histologically to hyaline cartilage,
but, in addition, elastic cartilage contains a
dense network of delicately branched elastic
fibres.

17. Fibrocartilage
• it’s a transition between dense connective
tissue and hyaline cartilage.
• Chondrocytes may lie singly or in pairs, but
most often they form short rows between
dense bundles of collagen fibres.
• collagen fibers type I is dominant in fibrous
cartilage.

19. It is found in intervertebral disks, in attachments
of certain ligaments to the cartilaginous surface
of bones, and in the symphysis pubis.