Chapter 7: CARTILAGE
1. Name the cell type that is found in cartilage.
2. Cartilage is described as “avascular.” What does this mean?
3. What component of the extracellular matrix permits diffusion and thus eliminates the need for
blood vessels?
4. What are the three types of cartilage?
5. What is the appearance of the extracellular matrix in hyaline cartilage?
6. What is a lacuna?
7. What are the three classes of molecules in hyaline cartilage matrix that are produced by
chondrocytes?
8. What is the term for age-associated degeneration of articular cartilage?
9. What is the role of chondrocytes once the extracellular matrix has been produced?
10. What are isogenous groups?
11. What explains the observation that in routine H&E material, chondrocytes appear not to
occupy the entire volume of a lacuna?
12. What accounts for the basophilia of the extracellular matrix in hyaline cartilage?
13. How does one explain the darker staining of the capsular and territorial matrix surrounding
the lacunae of hyaline cartilage?
14. What is the term that indicates the conversion of hyaline cartilage to bone as a normal part of
development?
15. Where is hyaline cartilage found in adults?
16. What is the location and composition of perichondrium?
17. What is articular cartilage and where is it found?
18. What is the most important difference between elastic cartilage and hyaline cartilage?
19. Which stains are commonly used for elastic cartilage?
20. Where is elastic cartilage found?
21. Is elastic cartilage bounded by a perichondrium?
22. What attributes distinguish fibrocartilage from the other two types of cartilage?
23. What types of cells comprise fibrocartilage and what is their distinctive arrangement in the
light microscope?
24. Where is fibrocartilage found?
25. What is the developmental origin of most cartilage tissue?
26. What is a chondroblast?
27. At what point is a chondroblast more properly called a chondrocyte?
28. What is “appositional growth” and where does this type of growth occur?
29. What is “interstitial growth” and where does this type of growth occur?
30. What explains the poor ability of cartilage to repair itself after injury?
31. How does the appearance of new blood vessels at the site of cartilage damage alter the fate
of the tissue?
32. What is the fate of hyaline cartilage that becomes calcified?
33. How does calcification affect the survival of chondrocytes?