a. Cartilage – hard & flexible/compressible/elastic connective tissue
rigid: provides support – trachea
flexible: permits movement of ribcage
elastic (bend & return to original shape): role in joints
- chondrocytes embedded in lacunae in matrix
- no blood vessels: nutrients must diffuse through matrix – takes long time to heal
- no nerves – don’t feel pain unless it degrades
hyaline cartilage: weakest – articular surface of bones (joints) / nose / trachea / ribcage
- high proportion of collagen fibres – tough = withstand force in joint
- perichondrium: fibrous connective tissue coat
o reduces friction
ossifies into bone in foetus
damaged: replaced by fibrocartilage scar tissue
yellow elastic cartilage: most flexible = external ear
- high proportion of yellow elastic fibres
- perichondrium: fibrous connective tissue coat
white fibrous cartilage (fibrocartilage): strongest – intervertebral discs
- dense collagen fibres – high tensile strength
o shock-absorber
rigid: provides support – trachea
flexible: permits movement of ribcage
elastic (bend & return to original shape): role in joints
- chondrocytes embedded in lacunae in matrix
- no blood vessels: nutrients must diffuse through matrix – takes long time to heal
- no nerves – don’t feel pain unless it degrades
hyaline cartilage: weakest – articular surface of bones (joints) / nose / trachea / ribcage
- high proportion of collagen fibres – tough = withstand force in joint
- perichondrium: fibrous connective tissue coat
o reduces friction
ossifies into bone in foetus
damaged: replaced by fibrocartilage scar tissue
yellow elastic cartilage: most flexible = external ear
- high proportion of yellow elastic fibres
- perichondrium: fibrous connective tissue coat
white fibrous cartilage (fibrocartilage): strongest – intervertebral discs
- dense collagen fibres – high tensile strength
o shock-absorber
