cartilage

(kär`təlĭj), flexible semiopaque connective tissueconnective tissue,
supportive tissue widely distributed in the body, characterized by large amounts of intercellular substance and relatively few cells. The intercellular material, or matrix, is produced by the cells and gives the tissue its particular character.
..... Click the link for more information. without blood vessels or nerve cells. It forms part of the skeletal system in humans and in other vertebrates, and is also known as gristle. Temporary cartilage makes up the skeletal system of the fetus and the infant, forming a model for later replacement by bonebone,
hard tissue that forms the skeleton of the body in vertebrate animals. In the very young, the skeleton is composed largely of cartilage and is therefore pliable, reducing the incidence of bone fracture and breakage in childhood.
..... Click the link for more information. as the body matures. Permanent cartilage remains throughout life, as in the external ear, nose, larynx, and windpipe (or trachea). Cartilage is also present at the jointsjoint,
in anatomy, juncture between two bones. Some joints are immovable, e.g., those that connect the bones of the skull, which are separated merely by short, tough fibers of cartilage. Movable joints are found for the most part in the limbs.
..... Click the link for more information. , where it reduces friction and imparts flexibility. There are three major types of cartilage appearing in vertebrates. The most common is hyaline cartilage, which composes the pre-skeletal model and is found in adults at the joints, in the nose, and in several internal organs. Elastic cartilage is found in several parts of the ear and in the epiglottis, and is the most pliable type of cartilage. Fibrocartilage is found in the intervertebral disks, and is an extremely resilient tissue.

Cartilage

A firm, resilient connective tissue of vertebrates and some invertebrates. Isolated pieces act to provide support and anchor muscles, or with bone to contribute its resilience and interstitial growth to skeletal functions. Cartilage comprises a firm extracellular matrix synthesized by large, ovoid cells (chondrocytes) located in holes called lacunae. The matrix elements are water bound by the high negative charge of extended proteoglycan (protein-polysaccharide) molecules, and a network of fine collagen fibrils. The elements furnish mechanical stability, give, and tensile strength, but allow the diffusion of nutrients and waste to keep the cells alive. See Bone, Collagen

Cartilage is modified in several ways. In elastic cartilage, elastic fibers in the matrix increase resilience, as in cartilages supporting the Eustachian tube, mammalian external ear, and parts of the larynx. Where cartilage joins bones tightly at certain joints with limited mobility, for example, at the pubic symphysis and between vertebrae, the matrix of fibrocartilage contains prominent collagen fibers and has less proteoglycan than the typical hyaline variety. Hyaline cartilage, named for its glassy translucence, is the major support in the airway; and throughout the embryo, pieces of it develop as a precursor to the bony skeleton, except in the face and upper skull. See Ear (vertebrate), Larynx

The primitive cartilaginous skeleton undergoes another modification, by locally calcifying its matrix. At sites of calcification, invading cells destroy the cartilage and mostly replace it by bone, leaving permanent hyaline cartilage only at the joint or articular surfaces, in some ribs, and, until maturity, at growth plates set back from the joints and perpendicular to the long axis of limb bones. The precarious physiological balance between chondrocytes and matrix materials in the heavily loaded articular cartilage breaks down in old age or in inflamed joints. See Connective tissue, Joint (anatomy)

Cartilage

a connective tissue that performs a mechanical (support) function; it is found in all vertebrates, including man, and in some invertebrates, for example, cephalopod mollusks. In cartilaginous fish and cyclostomes the entire skeleton consists of cartilage; in other vertebrates the cartilaginous skeleton occurs only in embryos. In adult mammals, including man, cartilage is preserved in the joint surfaces of bones, in the thoracic ends of the ribs, in the tracheal and bronchial walls, and in the auricle of the external ear. It also is present in the nasal wall, larynx, epiglottis, and eyelids.

Cartilage is formed from the mesenchyma. It is constructed from cells known as chondrocytes and by the intercellular substance elaborated by the cells. The substance consists of collagenous fibers (chondrin) and ground substance. Three types of cartilage—hyaline, elastic, and fibrous—are distinguished according to the characteristics of the intercellular substance. Hyaline cartilage is the most common. Its large quantity of ground substance and the similar values of the refractive index of ground substance and fibrous component determine its external features: homogeneity and glassiness. Elastic cartilage differs from hyaline cartilage in that it has elastic fibers. Fibrous cartilage has bundles of collagenous fibers that can be easily observed under a light microscope.

Cartilage is covered with a membrane of connective tissue, perichondrium, which contains cells capable of changing into chondrocytes. Cartilage grows mainly by such transformation and by the division of cartilage cells (intercalary growth). Cartilage does not have blood vessels; nutrients penetrate it by diffusion.

N. G. KHRUSHCHOV

cartilage

[′kärd·əl·ij] (histology) A specialized connective tissue which is bluish, translucent, and hard but yielding.

cartilage

a tough elastic tissue composing most of the embryonic skeleton of vertebrates. In the adults of higher vertebrates it is mostly converted into bone, remaining only on the articulating ends of bones, in the thorax, trachea, nose, and ears

See cartilage

cartilage

[kahr´tĭ-lij] a specialized, fibrous connective tissue present in adults, and forming most of the temporary skeleton in the embryo, providing a model in which most of the bones develop, and constituting an important part of the organism's growth mechanism; the three most important types are hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage. Also, a general term for a mass of such tissue in a particular site in the body.

Involvement of joint and cartilage in osteoarthritis. From ARHP Arthritis Teaching Slide Collection, American College of Rheumatology.alar c's the cartilages of the wings of the nose.aortic cartilage the second costal cartilage on the right side.arthrodial cartilage (articular cartilage) that lining the articular surfaces of synovial joints.arytenoid c's two pyramid-shaped cartilages of the larynx.connecting cartilage that connecting the surfaces of an immovable joint.costal cartilage a bar of hyaline cartilage that attaches a rib to the sternum in the case of true ribs, or to the immediately above rib in the case of the upper false ribs.cricoid cartilage a ringlike cartilage forming the lower and back part of the larynx.diarthrodial cartilage articular cartilage.elastic cartilage cartilage that is more opaque, flexible, and elastic than hyaline cartilage, and is further distinguished by its yellow color. The ground substance is penetrated in all directions by frequently branching fibers that give all of the reactions for elastin.ensiform cartilage xiphoid process.fibrous cartilage fibrocartilage.floating cartilage a detached portion of semilunar cartilage in the knee joint.hyaline cartilage flexible, somewhat elastic, semitransparent cartilage with an opalescent bluish tint, composed of a basophilic fibril-containing substance with cavities in which the chondrocytes occur.

Hyaline cartilage. The matrix nearest the chondrocytes is intensely staining; although the matrix appears homogeneous, collagen fibrils may be visualized by polarized light or electron microscopy. From Dorland's, 2000.Meckel's cartilage the ventral cartilage of the first branchial arch.permanent cartilage cartilage that does not normally become ossified.Reichert's cartilage the dorsal cartilage of the second branchial arch.reticular cartilage elastic cartilage.semilunar cartilage one of the two interarticular cartilages of the knee joint.temporary cartilage cartilage that is normally destined to be replaced by bone.thyroid cartilage the shield-shaped cartilage of the larynx, underlying the prominence" >laryngeal prominence on the surface of the neck.vomeronasal cartilage either of the two narrow strips of cartilage, one on each side, of the nasal septum supporting the vomeronasal organ.yellow cartilage elastic cartilage.

car·ti·lage

(kar'ti-lij), [TA] Avoid the misspellings cartiledge, cartlage, and other variants.A connective tissue characterized by its nonvascularity and firm consistency; consists of cells (chondrocytes), an interstitial matrix of fibers (collagen), and ground substance (proteoglycans). There are three kinds of cartilage: hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage. Nonvascular, resilient, flexible connective tissue found primarily in joints, the walls of the thorax, and tubular structures (for example, larynx, air passages, and ears); makes up most of the skeleton in early fetal life, but is slowly replaced by bone. For a gross anatomic description, see cartilago and its subentries. Synonym(s): cartilago [TA], chondrus (1) , gristle [L. cartilago (cartilagin-), gristle]

cartilage

(kär′tl-ĭj)n. A tough, elastic, fibrous connective tissue that is a major constituent of the embryonic and young vertebrate skeleton and in most species is converted largely to bone with maturation. It is found in various parts of the human body, such as the joints, outer ear, and larynx.

car·ti·lage

(kahr'ti-lăj) [TA] A connective tissue characterized by its nonvascularity and firm consistency; consists of cells (chondrocytes), an interstitial matrix of fibers (collagen), and a ground substance (proteoglycans); found primarily in joints, the walls of the thorax, and tubular structures such as the larynx, air passages, and ears; comprises most of the skeleton in early fetal life, but is slowly replaced by bone. There are three kinds of cartilage: hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage.
Synonym(s): cartilago [TA] , gristle. [L. cartilago (cartilagin-), gristle]

cartilage

Gristle. A dense form of connective tissue performing various functions in the body such as providing bearing surfaces in the joints, flexible linkages for the ribs, and a supportive tissue in which bone may be formed during growth.

cartilage

gristle

a form of connective or skeletal tissue with a translucent, smooth, ‘plastic’ consistency, that allows diffusion of solutes through it. Cartilage is characterized by the presence of rounded cartilage corpuscles (CELLS), surrounded by a matrix of mucopolysaccharide (CHONDRIN) in which, besides the cartilage cells, there are numerous collagen fibres. Cartilage forms the first parts of the skull, vertebrae and long bones of the developing embryo but in adult mammals (and many other vertebrates) is largely replaced by bone. It remains at the ends of bones, in joints, at the ventral ends of the ribs and in a few other places to aid low-friction articulation. The types of cartilage are as follows:

hyaline cartilage, which is bluish-white and transluscent and contains some very fine collagen fibres. It is present at rib ends, in tracheal rings, in the nose, in the embryos of all vertebrates and the adult stages of cartilagenous fishes.
elastic cartilage, containing yellow fibres and present in the ear, the end of the nose, and the EUSTACHIAN TUBE.
fibrocartilage, containing few cells and large numbers of fibres, and associated with joints subject to severe strains. It is present as discs between the vertebrae and in the pubic symphysis.

Cartilage

A tough, elastic connective tissue found in the joints, outer ear, nose, larynx, and other parts of the body.Mentioned in: Achondroplasia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Osteoarthritis, Rhinoplasty, Septoplasty, Tracheotomy

car·ti·lage

(kahr'ti-lăj) [TA] Connective tissue characterized by its nonvascularity and firm consistency; consists chondrocytes of collagen, and proteoglycans. [L. cartilago (cartilagin-), gristle]

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Synonyms for cartilage

noun tough elastic tissue

Synonyms

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