Why is elastic cartilage important

Remodeling of cartilage is predominantly affected by changes and rearrangements of the collagen matrix, which responds to tensile and compressive forces experienced by the cartilage. Cartilage growth thus mainly refers to matrix deposition, but can include both growth and remodeling of the ECM. Early in fetal development, the greater part of the skeleton is cartilaginous. This temporary cartilage is gradually replaced by bone endochondral ossification , a process that ends at puberty.

In contrast, the cartilage in the joints remains permanently unossified during life. Once damaged, cartilage has limited repair capabilities because chondrocytes are bound in lacunae and cannot migrate to damaged areas. Also, because cartilage does not have a blood supply, the deposition of new matrix is slow. Damaged hyaline cartilage is usually replaced by fibrocartilage scar tissue.

Over the last few years, surgeons and scientists have elaborated a series of cartilage repair procedures that help to postpone the need for joint replacement. These include marrow stimulation techniques, including surgeries, stem cell injections, and grafting of cartilage into damaged areas.

However, due to the extremely slow growth of cartilage and its avascular properties, regeneration and growth of cartilage post-injury is still very slow. Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Skeletal System. Search for:. Learning Objective Differentiate among the types of cartilage. Key Takeaways Key Points Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue that differs from bone in several ways; it is avascular and its microarchitecture is less organized than bone.

Cartilage is not innervated and therefore relies on diffusion to obtain nutrients. This causes it to heal very slowly. The main cell types in cartilage are chondrocytes, the ground substance is chondroitin sulfate, and the fibrous sheath is called perichondrium. There are three types of cartilage: hyaline, fibrous, and elastic cartilage. Hyaline cartilage is the most widespread type and resembles glass. In the embryo, bone begins as hyaline cartilage and later ossifies.

Fibrous cartilage has many collagen fibers and is found in the intervertebral discs and pubic symphysis. Elastic cartilage is springy, yellow, and elastic and is found in the internal support of the external ear and in the epiglottis. Key Terms chondroitin sulfate : An important structural component of cartilage that provides much of its resistance to compression.

Chondrocytes : Cells that form and maintain the cartilage. Learning Objective Describe cartilage growth and repair. This type of cartilage does not have a perichondrium as it is usually a transitional layer between hyaline cartilage and tendon or ligament. The picture above is a section of elastic cartilage, stained so that you can see the elastic fibres. For example, the Van Giesen stain stains elastic fibres black. In elastic cartilage, the chondrocytes are found in a threadlike network of elastic fibres within the matrix.

Elastic cartilage provides strength, and elasticity, and maintains the shape of certain structure such as the external ear. It has a perichondrium. Cartilage: The three types of cartilage There are three types of cartilage: Hyaline - most common, found in the ribs, nose, larynx, trachea. Is a precursor of bone.

Anatomy and physiology : understanding the human body. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. The human respiratory system is an efficient system of inspiring and expiring respiratory gases. This tutorial provides details of the different parts and functions of the respiratory system Read More.