L8: Cartilage and Bone

HISTOPATHOLOGY I
HIS 1213


Types of cartilage

Types of bone

Cartilage
Cartilage is
a form of connective tissue composed of cells
called chrondrocytes and a highly specialized
extra-cellular matrix.
Cartilage is an avascular tissue.

 More than 95% of cartilage volume consists of

extracellular matrix.
Extracellular matrix is the functional element
of this tissue which is deposited by
chrondoblast.
Eventually, the chondroblasts become
enclosed in spaces called lacunae (termed as
chondrocytes)

 Major component of extracellular matrix:

 proteoglycan (aggrecan)
Collagen molecules
 multiadhesive glycoproteins

 The extracellular matrix is solid firm and well

adapted to bear weight.
There are no vascular network within
cartilage (avascular), hence, extracellular
matrix is crucial to the survival of the
chrondrocytes.
Generally, there are three types of cartilage.
They differ in characteristic, appearance,
mechanical properties and are
distinguishable:

1. Hyaline cartilage
 Matrix containing type II collagen fibers,
GAGs, proteoglycans, and multi-adhesive
glycoproteins.
 Hyaline cartilage is an elastic, compressible
tissue located at the ends of bones and in
the nose.

C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage keep

open the air passages of the respiratory
system (trachea, bronchi and larger
bronchioles
It also forms the skeleton of cartilaginous
fish (eg: sharks) and forms the embryonic
skeleton in bony vetebrates.

2. Elastic cartilage
 characterized by elastic fibers and elastic
lamellae in addition to the material of
hyaline cartilage.
Elastic fibre is a dense network of
branching and anastomosing

 The elastic material gives the elastic

properties to the elastic cartilage.
 They confer greater elasticity and
flexibility than is found in hyaline cartilage
 Besides, elastic fibres also permit tissue to
recover its shape quickly after distortion.

 Eg: external ear, epiglottis.

3. Fibrocartilage
 characterized by abundant type I collagen
fibers in addition to the matrix material of
hyaline cartilage.
 This provides greater tensile strength than
hyaline cartilage and small degree of
flexibility.
Note: Tensile strength is the maximum stress a
material subjected to a stretching load
can withstand without tearing.

 Fibrous cartilage is located as discs

between vertebrae (intervertebral discs)
where it provides a cushioning effect.
 It is also found in the symphysis pubis and
ligamentous capsules surrounding joints.

Note : Symphysis pubis is the region between

two pubic bones of the pelvis

 Perichondrium
 It is a dense connective tissue.
 Resemble capsule that surrounds glands
and many organs.
 Was thought to serve as the source of new
chondroblast.
Versican
 A proteoglycan monomer secreted by
fibroblast.

 Fibroblast
 Cell that produces fibre
Versican
 A proteoglycan monomer secreted by
fibroblast.

Bone
Bone is the most abundant of all animal
skeletal materials, and provides support,
protection and some metabolic functions.
A bone consist of:
Bone tissues

Nerves

Connective tissues

Blood vessels

Fat tissue

 Calcium and phosphate stored in the bone can

be released into the blood (as needed), under
the influence of:
 Parathormone (Parathyroid hormone)
 Calcitonin

 Base on the shape , bones can be classified

into four groups:
1. Long bones
(eg: tibia, femur, ulna, radius, humerus)
2. Short bones
(eg: carpal bones, patella)
3. Flat bones
(eg: sternum, skull cap)
4. Irregular bones
(eg: vertebra)

 If a bone is cut, two distinct structural

arrangement of bone tissue can be recognize:
 Compact bone
(a compact, dense layer forms the outside
of the bone)
 Spongy bone
(a spongelike meshwork consisting of
trabeculae forms the interior of the bone)

COMPACT / DENSE BONE

Involved in the growth of long bones.

A transverse section of compact bone shows it
consist of numerous cylinders, each
surrounding a central Haversian canal.

 One such cylinder plus its canal is termed a

Haversian system or osteon.
Each cylinder itself made up of a set of
concentric layers called lamellae which are
cylindrical.
Such arrangement of lamellae increases the
strength.

 Between lamellae are numerous lacunae

(space).
Lacunae contains living bone cells called
osteoblast, which is capable of bone
deposition / making bone.
The cells are embedded in a firm, calcified
matrix.
The matrix consist of 30% of organic material
(collagen) and 70% of inorganic bone salt
(hydropoxyapatite, sodium, magneisum, etc)

 The combination of organic with inorganic

material produces a structure of great
strength.
As the osteoblasts mature, they are known
osteocytes.
Radiating from each lacuna are many fine
channels called canaliculi.

 Canaliculi link up
 Haversian canal
 With other lacunae
 Pass from one lamella to another
Such structure allows the passage of:
 Nutrients
 Respiratory gases
 Metabolic waste

 Covering the compact bone is a layer of dense

connective tissue called periosteum.
The inner region of periosteum has blood
vessels and forms a layer which contains cells
that can develop into osteoblasts.

SPONGY BONE
Consists of a meshwork of thin,
interconnecting bony struts called trabeculae.
Its matrix contaians less inorganic material
(60-65%) than compact bone.
The organic material is primarily composed of
collagen fibres.
The spaces between the trabeculae are filled
with soft marrow tissue.

 The trabeculae are oriented in the direction in

which bone is stressed.
This enables the bone to withstand tension
and compression forces effectively.