Cartilage is the main type of connective tissue seen throughout the body. It serves a variety of structural and functional purposes and exists in different types throughout our joints, bones, spine, lungs, ears and nose.
Bone is a connective tissue containing cells, fibers and ground substance. Bone is unique because its collagen framework absorbs energy, while the mineral encased within the matrix allows bone to resist deformation.
Muscle has a rich blood supply, which is why it is the fastest healing tissue listed above. The circulatory system provides all tissues with nutrients and oxygen – both of which enable the tissue to heal.
Healing Expectations for Different Tissue Types.
| Tissue types: | Range of time for healing: |
|---|
| Tendon | 4-6 weeks |
| Bone | 6-8 weeks |
| Ligaments | 10-12 weeks |
| Cartilage | ~12 weeks |
Bones have a very hard matrix due to calcium salts and the cartilages have slightly flexible matrix due to a protein called chondrin. Cartilage and Bone are specialised forms of connective tissue. Bone is highly vascularised, and its calcified matrix makes it very strong.
Bone marrow is a kind of tissue from which all blood cells made. Bone marrow is absent. Both the Haversian canal system and the Volkmann canal are present in bones. Cartilage lacks the Haversian canal system and the Volkmann canal as well.
Cartilage and bone are specialized connective tissues that provide support to other tissues and organs. Cartilage occurs where flexibility is required, while bone resists deformation.
7 Types of Connective Tissue
- Cartilage. Cartilage is a type of supporting connective tissue.
- Bone. Bone is another type of supporting connective tissue.
- Adipose. Adipose is another type of supporting connective tissue that provides cushions and stores excess energy and fat.
- Blood.
- Hemapoetic/Lymphatic.
- Elastic.
- Fibrous.
Connective tissue proper includes: loose connective tissue (also called areolar) and dense (irregular) connective tissue. Specialized connective tissue types include: dense regular connective tissue, cartilage, bone, adipose tissue, blood, and hematopoietic tissue.
Articular cartilage is the highly specialized connective tissue of diarthrodial joints. Its principal function is to provide a smooth, lubricated surface for articulation and to facilitate the transmission of loads with a low frictional coefficient (Figure 1).
Bone and cartilage are two specialized forms of connective tissues which are composed of cells embedded within an extracellular matrix.
Difference between Bone and Cartilage.
| Bones | Cartilage |
|---|
| Bones are of two types: compact or spongy. | Cartilage is of three types: Hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage and elastic cartilage. |
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.
Generally, the types of connective tissues are divided into six main groups:
- Loose ordinary connective tissue.
- Adipose tissue.
- Blood and blood forming tissues.
- Dense ordinary connective tissue.
- Cartilage.
- Bone.
4.3B: Types of Connective Tissue
- Areolar Connective Tissue.
- Adipose Tissue or Body Fat.
- Reticular Connective Tissue.
- Dense Regular Connective Tissue.
- Dense Irregular Tissue.
- Elastic Connective Tissue.
- Cartilage.
- Elastic Cartilage.
Which of the following is not an example of connective tissue? Explanation: Skin is composed of epithelial cells, and is therefore not an example of connective tissue. The major types of connective tissue include bone, adipose, blood, and cartilage.
are fibers always visible in cartilage? no, not in hyaline cartilage.
Specialized connective tissues include a number of different tissues with specialized cells and unique ground substances. Some of these tissues are solid and strong, while others are fluid and flexible. Examples include adipose, cartilage, bone, blood, and lymph.
The following points highlight the ten main varieties of connective tissues of human body. They are: 1. Areolar Tissue 2. Adipose Tissue 3.
Reticulo-Endothelial Tissue.
- Areolar Tissue:
- Adipose Tissue (Fig.
- White Fibrous Tissue (Fig.
- Yellow Elastic Tissue (Fig.
- Reticular Tissue (Fig.
- Blood and Haemopoietic Tissue:
All connective tissue consists of three main components: fibers (elastic and collagen fibers), ground substance and cells. Not all authorities include blood or lymph as connective tissue because they lack the fiber component. A tendon is a fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. Tendons may also attach muscles to structures such as the eyeball. A tendon serves to move the bone or structure.
Specialized connective tissues include a number of different tissues with specialized cells and unique ground substances. Some of these tissues are solid and strong, while others are fluid and flexible. Examples include adipose, cartilage, bone, blood, and lymph.
Collagen: Collagen fibers are the strongest and most abundant of all the connective tissue fibers.
Skin is made up of connective tissue that consists of cellular components and an extracellular matrix.
The loose connective tissue is the most common type of connective tissue in humans and other vertebrates. It holds or binds the biological organs together. It binds the epithelial tissue to the adjacent tissues. Examples of loose connective tissue include areolar tissue and reticular connective tissue.
The most important functions of cartilage include:
- Cartilage gives shape, support, and structure to other body tissues.
- It also helps to cushion joints.
- Cartilage also smoothens the bone surfaces at the joints.
- It is essential for the development and growth of long bones.
Hyaline cartilage is found in the nose, ears, trachea, parts of the larynx, and smaller respiratory tubes. Fibrous cartilage has the fewest cells so it has the most intercellular space. Fibrous cartilage is found in the spine and the menisci.
| Cartilage |
|---|
| TA98 | A02.0.00.005 |
| TA2 | 381 |
| Anatomical terminology |
Cartilage, like bone, is surrounded by a perichondrium-like fibrous membrane. This layer is not efficient at regenerating cartilage. Hence, its recovery is slow after injury. The lack of active blood flow is the major reason any injury to cartilage takes a long time to heal.
It is not as hard and rigid as bone, but it is much stiffer and much less flexible than muscle. The matrix of cartilage is made up of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, collagen fibers and, sometimes, elastin. Because of its rigidity, cartilage often serves the purpose of holding tubes open in the body.
Foods that Help Rebuild Cartilage
- Legumes. For optimal joint function, it is important to beat inflammation wherever possible—inflammation is the primary source of collagen and, by extension, cartilage breakdown.
- Oranges.
- Pomegranates.
- Green Tea.
- Brown Rice.
- Nuts.
- Brussel Sprouts.
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many parts of the body. It can bend a bit, but resists stretching. Its main function is to connect bones together. It is also found in the joints, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the throat and between the bones of the back.
: any of the cartilages that connect the distal ends of the ribs with the sternum and by their elasticity permit movement of the chest in respiration.
Your nose is supported by bone (at the back and bridge) and by cartilage (in the front).
