CARTILAGE
➡️Cartilage is a special dense connective tissue.
➡️Cells of cartilage are:-
Chondrocytes (mature)
Chondroblast (immature)
➡️ Intracellular matrix of cartilage consists of:-
Fibers- type I/ type II collagen fibers or elastic fibers and ground substances
Note: All the cartilages are covered by perichondrium
1)Outer fibrous
2)Inner cellular type
I.HYALINE CARTILAGE
➡️Characterized by "Translucent homogenous bluish matrix"
# Translucent – because the presence of proteoglycans in matrix
#Bluish matrix – due to the presence of proteoglycan, matrix is basophilic so it is stained by hematoxylin
# Homogenous – because the refractive index of collagen fibers and ground substance is same
➡️Here chondrocytes lie within the lacunae and they are arranged in groups of 2- 6 cells called "cell nest"
➡️ Matrix around the cell nest we can observe lightly stained interterritorial matrix
➡️Examples: articular cartilage, fetal skeletal, epiphyseal plate, costal cartilage.
Note:
collagen fibers present in hyaline cartilage are type II
Articular cartilage is devoid of perichondrium
