CARTILAGE

Cartilage is modified connective tissue in which the amorphorous intercellular substance is hardened to provide rigidity, support and attachment for soft tissue.

Characteristic features of cartilage: A specialized type of connective tissue. Its cells are separated by firm, gel-like ground substance. Is avascular. (Not penetrated by blood vessels) Cartilage is nourished by diffusion of small molecules from capillaries in the surrounding connective tissue or from synovial fluid in joint cavities. Has no lymphatic vessel or nerves. Cartilage cells are isolated in small cavities (lacunae) in the ground substance. Extra cellular matrix is firm and flexible. It allows the tissue to bear mechanical stress without permanent distortion. It is smooth-surfaced which provides sliding surfaces for articulation inside joint cavities. Forms the epiphyseal plates. (Play an important role in growth (length) of long bones)

COMPONENTS OF CARTILAGE

extracellular matrix

Cartilage cells

1)intercellular ground substance

chondroblasts

-glycosaminoglycans
(hyaluronic acid) -proteoglycans (chondroitin sulfate)

chondrocytes

2)Collagenous and elastic fibres -elastic fibers -collagen fibers

PERICHONDRIUM
Perichondrium is a fibro-cellular membrane or fibrous connective tissue that cover or surround cartilage except the articular cartilage of synovial joints . Perichondrium consists of two layers An outer fibrous layer Inner vascular and cellular layer which is called chondrogenic layer.The cells in this layer are capable of giving or forming new cartilage which are known as chondroblasts.

Functions of the Perichondrium 1. It is important for the development and growth . -growth of cartilage at its periphery 2. It is important for the maintenance also support of cartilage and its nutrition. Cartilage is avascular (which is not penetrated by blood vessels).Thus . blood vessel in the perichondrium give or excrete nutrients and oxygen and reach the chondrocytes by diffusing through the intercellular ground substance.

Inside Joint cavities ,there is no perichondrium in the articular cartilage as it doesnt need perichondrium to resists movement.Thus it is nourished by diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from the synovial fluid.

1) THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

It is important for the turgidity ,firmness,flexibility and elasticity of the cartilage and this is produce by cartilage cells . The cells of connective tissue are embedded in a great amount of extracellular material. The extracellular matrix of cartilage is secreted by specialized cells derived from fibroblasts which is the chondroblasts. STRUCTURE It is consists of collagen (type II fibrils) fibers that is embedded in a firm gel of proteoglycans Examples : chondroitin sulphate and structural glycoproteins

(EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX OF CARTILAGE )

2) THE CARTILAGE CELLS

CHONDROBLASTS
Chondroblasts is a cell which originates from a mesenchymal stem cell and forms chondrocytes, commonly known as cartilage cell.It secretes extracellular matrix (ground substance and fibers) and then trapped inside lacunae that will then form chondrocytes which is the mature chondroblasts SHAPE AND SITE Chondroblasts has a flattened oval or spindle shaped cells with basophilic cytoplasm and oval nuclei and is present in the inner cellular layer of perichondrium.

CHONDROCYTES

Chondrocytes are mature cartilage cells and is situated inside lacunae which is the intercellular substance. Around the lacunae ,the matrix is condense forming capsule that is tained more deeply basophilic.This is due to the high concentration of chondroitin sulfates.Function of chondrocytes is to maintain the extracellular matrix.

SHAPE AND SITE Young chondrocytes are present underneath perichondrium .They are flat elliptical in shape with long axis parallel to the surface .They can also undergo mitosis. Mature chondrocytes are deeply situated.Spherical in shape that contains large nuclei with more than one nucleoli. Cell nests (groups of chondrocytes).This is when single chondrocytes divide into two daughter cells and will divide into more chondrocytes again and again.The daughter cells also always remain near together due to rigid nature of matrix .Thus the cells become ovoid and flattened on adjacent side .

EXAMPLES OF CHONDROCYTES AND CHONDROBLASTS IN CARTILAGE

TYPES OF CARTILAGE:
1-Hyaline cartilage containing predominantly type 2 collagen fibers 2-Elastic cartilage containing abundant elastic fibers in addition to type 2 collagen fibers 3-White fibrocartilage containing abundant type 1 collagen fibers in addition to type 3

Hyaline cartilage
-found on many joint surfaces -it contains no nerves or blood vessels -structure is relatively simple

Sites:
-skeletal of the embryo -epiphyseal plates in growing age -costal cartilage -nose,larynx (e.g. thyroid cartilage),trachea and bronchi in respiratory system -articular nearly all joints surfaces of synovial and cartilagenous

Description
-The word hyaline comes from the Greek for glassy, and refers to the translucence of the tissue. -hyaline is covered with perichondrium,except when inside joint cavity -fresh hyaline cartilage has a bluish grey color -extracellular matrix is glassy,translucent and contains no apparent fibers -Cartilage is characterized by lacunae, literally "windows," in the matrix, in which the tissue cells are located. -The cells, called chrondrocytes, are responsible for producing the extracellular matrix. -Each lacuna may hold from one, two, four, or eight cells

ELASTIC CARTILAGE
Very flexible and resilient. Sites :
Ear pinna External auditory canal Epiglottis and small cartilages in larynx i. ii. iii. iv. v. Diagram: Always covered with perichondrium (never present inside joint cavities) Fresh- yellowish colour (elastic fibers) Presents of extracellular matrix with many interlacing elastic fibers (orcein and V.V.G stain) Numerous chondrocytes 1-3 chondrocytes/capsule

WHITE FIBROCARTILAGE
Found wherever great strength combined with flexibility and rigidity is required (midline)

SITES :
1) Intervertebral disc 2) Symphysis pubis (Joins 2 pelvic bones) 3) Temperomandibular joint 4) Sternoclavicular joint (Joins clavicle and sternum)

STRUCTURE :

GROWTH OF CARTILAGE

1- Appositional growth 2- Interstitial growth

Differences between appositional and interstitial growth

APPOSITIONAL GROWTH Growth of cartilage at its periphery by adding new layers from outside.

INTERSTITIAL GROWTH Growth of cartilage from inside.

It is caused by mitosis of chondroblasts in perichondrium.

It is caused by mitosis of chondrocytes within the cartilage.

Secrete new matrix on the surface, then chondroblasts is transform to chondrocytes.

Secrete more matrix and form cell nests in the lacunae and hence expand cartilage to expand from within.

References:
2)Components of cartilage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chondrocyte http://www.cdaarthritis.com/images_slides/images_slides_10_larger_slid es%20backup.htm http://apbrwww5.apsu.edu/thompsonj/Anatomy%20&%20Physiology/201 0/2010%20Exam%20Reviews/Exam%202%20Review/Ch%206%20Modes% 20of%20Ossification.htm http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-chondrocytes.htm http://www.nature.com/nrrheum/journal/v2/n7/fig_tab/ncprheum0216_ F1.html http://www.histol.chuvashia.com/tab-en/cont-en.htm
Simplified histology for dental,pharmacy and physical therapy students reference book

3)Types of cartilage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyaline_cartilage

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hyaline-cartilage.htm Simplified histology for dental,pharmacy and physical therapy students reference book

4)Growth of cartilage

http://www.vetmed.vt.edu/education/curriculum/vm8054/labs/Lab7/lab7.htm :http://www.auburn.edu/academic/classes/zy/hist0509/html/Lec05Bnotescart_bone_bloo.html