HISTOLOGY

Cartilage & Bones

OVERVIEW ] Metabolize glucose mainly by anaerobic

glycolysis
] Cartilage & bones are specialized types of CT,
providing skeletal framework of the body Functions of Cartilage
] Both are derived from embryonic mesenchyme
] Support soft tissues
] Both have cells embedded in ECM
] Sliding area for joints
¨ Friction free movements
CARTILAGE ] Permits flexibility without distorting the organ
Components ] Allow for growth in long bone length
Perichondrium ] Resilient to compression
] Act as shock absorbers
] Sheath of dense CT that surrounds cartilage in
¨ Molecular basis: hydration of
most places
] Growth & maintenance glycosaminoglycans
] Type I collagen – outer region
Three Types of Cartilage
] Fibroblast origin
] NOT present in articular cartilage

Cartilage Matrix
] Not as rigid as bone matrix
] Gives cartilage solid & firm consistency
] Highlight hydrated
] Avascular, no nerve or lymphatic supply
] Contains:
¨ Water: 60-80%
¨ Collagen (tensile strength): 15-20%
– Type II most collagen in hyaline
cartilage
¨ Proteoglycans (resilience): 2-10%
– With glycosaminoglycans
– Aggrecan most abundant of
proteoglycan of hyalin cartilage Hyaline Cartilage
¨ Other glycoproteins ] In epiphyseal plates, nose, larynx, trachea,
– Chondronectin mediates adherence of bronchi, anterior ends of ribs, articular surface of
chondrocytes to ECM movable joints
] Connective tissue fibers: collagen & elastic fibers ] Most common type
] Cells ] Skeletal model for most bones
¨ Chondroblasts – young chondrocytes ] Enclosed by perichondrium
¨ Chondrocytes – synthesize, maintain all ] Major regulator for hyalin cartilage growth is
ECM components & located in lacunae somatotropin
] Cells
Chondroblasts ¨ Progenitor cells – differentiate to form
] Found at periphery of cartilage chondroblasts
¨ Near perichondrium (if present) ¨ Chondroblasts – secrete cartilage matrix
] Elliptic shape with long axis parallel to surface – Entrap themselves in lacunae then
] Respire under low-oxygen tension mature into chondrocytes

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Ella Alexa Calingasan-Abrogueña
HISTOLOGY
Cartilage & Bones

¨ Chondrocytes – mature chondroblasts ] Has perichondrium

– Still capable of cell division ] Functions
– Forms a cluster of 2-4 cells within ¨ Framework supporting soft tissues
lacuna ¨ Shock absorber
– Flattened near perichondrium ] Yellowish color due to elastic fibers
– More round in deeper regions
¨ Isogenous groups – represent cell divisions Fibrocartilage
from an original chondrocyte ] In intervertebral disks, symphysis pubis
] Collagen ] Chondrocytes maybe arranged in isogenous
¨ Type II collagen fibers aggregates or singly interspersed with collagen
] Have water & ground substance ¨ Type I & II collagen
] Large amount of proteoglycan aggregates: ¨ Chondrocytes usually arise from
aggrecan fibroblasts
] Subdivided into 2 regions ¨ Isogenous aggregates
¨ Territorial matrix found around each ] Less proteoglycans
lacuna ] No perichondrium
– Poor in collagen but rich in ] Parts
chondroitin sulfate = basophilic ¨ Nucleus pulposus – gelatinous center of
¨ Interterritorial matrix forms bulk of each disk
matrix – Resists forces of compression
– Rich in type II collagen but poor – Disappears after 20th year
proteoglycans ¨ Annulus fibrosus – provides resistance vs
] Chondronectin
tensile forces
¨ Cartilage matrix protein – Type I collagen fibers run vertically
¨ Binds to GAGs, collagen, integrin between cartilage of the 2 vertebrates
¨ Assists cells to maintain contact with – Fiber of adjacent lamellae are oriented
fibrous & amorphous components of matrix obliquely to each other = support
¨ Liaises attachment of chondrocytes to type ] Functions
II collagen ¨ Serve as shock absorber
Elastic Cartilage
Growth & Repair of Cartilages
] In ear auricles, walls of external auditory canal,
Interstitial Growth
eustachian tube, epiglottis, cuneiform cartilage in
larynx Mesenchymal cell retract their process then congregate
] Has elastic fibers aside from collaged = chondrification centers
] Outer fibrous layer of perichondrium is rich in ↓
Cells in chondrification centers differentiate
elastic fibers
= chondroblasts
] Matrix has abundant fine to course elastic fibers
↓
¨ Interspersed with type II collagen bundles
Cells secrete cartilage matrix
¨ Give more flexibility > hyaline cartilage ↓
matrix Chondroblasts mature
¨ Not as many as hyaline = chondrocytes
¨ Elastic fibers of territorial matrix are larger = isogenous groups
& more coarse > interterritorial ↓
] Chondrocytes more abundant & larger > hyaline Cells are pushed away from each other
¨ Isogenous aggregates = separated by own lacunae
] Presence of chondroblasts = cartilage enlargement
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Ella Alexa Calingasan-Abrogueña
HISTOLOGY
Cartilage & Bones

] Occurs only in early phase of growth

¨ From mitotic division of preexisting
chondrocytes
] Occurs in locations without perichondrium
] Occurs in epiphyseal plates of long bones
¨ Lacunae arranged in longitudinal
orientation, parallel to long axis of bone
] Serves to lengthen the bone

Appositional Growth
Mesenchymal cells at periphery differentiate
= fibroblasts

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Ella Alexa Calingasan-Abrogueña
HISTOLOGY
Cartilage & Bones

↓
Manufacture perichondrium
(dense, irregular CT)
↓
Chondrogenic cells differentiate
= chondroblasts
↓
Elaborate matrix
↓
Cartilage grows by adding to its periphery

] Increase in width
] Occurs at periosteum
] Differentiation of perichondrial cells
] Cartilage in remainder of body mostly grows by
apposition
] Controlled process that may continue throughout
cartilage life

Growth & Repair

Damage cartilage
] In adults, does not heal well
] Partial regeneration by perichondrium cells
¨ Depends on perichondrium
] Fibrotic scar tissue in place of new cartilage
¨ Dense CT
] Poor capacity of repair, due to
¨ Avascularity
¨ Low metabolic rate

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Ella Alexa Calingasan-Abrogueña