Cartilage and
bone
李盛芳
武玉玲
34
Cartilage: cross section of cat trachea
It is hollow organ.In the wall ,the dark blue color
shows the hyaline cartilage.
Low magnification ：
Inner surface : lining
the pseudostratified
ciliated columnar
epithelium .
1.hyaline cartilage :
the dotted structures
show the
chondrocytes.Among
the chondrocytes ,
homogeneous area is
extracellular matrix
composed of collagen
fibrils and ground
substance with the
same refractive
properties.
2.perichondrium
2
1
1
High magnification：
1.perichondrium
composed of dense
fibrous tissure
containing
chondroblasts.
2.chondrocyte:
located in a space
called lacuna.
3.cartilage capsule:
densly basophilic
zone surrounding
the lacuna.
4.extracellular
matrix:amouphous
homogeneous area
5.isogenous group
a group of
2
3
5
4
Section of living long
bone shaft: low power
specific stain .
1. Outer circumferetial
lamellae：parallel
lamellae along the outer
surface of the long bone.
2.Haversian system：
made up of a central
canal ,Haversian canal
and Haversian lamellae.
3 .interstitial lamellae：
remnants of old
Haversian system,located
between the Haversian
system,without central
canal.
4.osteocyte:the dotted
structures show the
osteocytes,densely
staining.
1
2
3
4
Section of compact
bone：
1.osteon :or called
Haversian system,in
the haversian
canal ,the blood
vessels ,lymphatic
vessels and the
delicate CT can be
seen.
2.central canal:
in the centre of the
Haversian system
dark appearance
because the air is
trapped in the
section.
1
2
3
3. Volkman canal or called perforating canal
,which is a long tubule ,linking the two Haversian
canals.
4.inner circumferential
lamellae：
in the bony marrow
cavity: the blood
vessels and adipose
tissue have been seen.
4
High magnification
Of compact bone：
focus a large
Haversian system.
1.osteocyte: the cell
body of osteocyte is
located in lacuna.
2.the cell processes
of the osteocyte
located in the fine
tunnels , called
canaliculi.
3.Haversian canal--central canal in
which is full of dye
or air.
1
3
2
Cross section of decalcified compact bone： H&E stain
Manufacturing process: Cut piece of long bone
diaphysis ,fixed and decalcified in acid
solution,sectioned and stained.
The red colour shows the compact bone ,centre is bone
marrow cavity.
Low magnification：
the Haversian
systems with various
sizes can be seen.
1.central canal:
Contains the blood
vessels , lymphatic
vessels and delicate
CT.
2.osteocytes:
located in
lacunae .The cell
bodies shrink or
desquamated while
histological
preparation .
1
2
Ground section of compact
bone:
Manufacturing process:
cut piece of old long bone and
grind with grinding stone
until it becomes as thin as
possible then stained.
Low magnification
1.Haversian system composed
of Haversian lamellae and
central canal in which fill
with dye or soil,dark staining.
2.Volkman canal:
A long tubule linked between
the two central canals.
3.osteon : Haversian system
3
1
2
High magnification:
1.osteon:
composed of
Haversian canal and
Haversian lamellae.
2.central canal
3.Volkman canal or
called perforating
canal full of dye.
4.lacunae:
flat,almond shaped
structure ,from which
the radially arranged
fine rays are
canaliculi.
4
3
2
1
10
Histogenesis of the long bone：H&E stain
Longitudinal section of knee joint of fetus
(3.5month),the black arrow shows the epiphysis ,light
gray in color ;the red zone
shows the diaphysis.。
Low magnification:
From the epiphysis to
diaphysis ,4 zones of
ossification can be
found.
1. Reserve zone：
resting zone: a typical
hyaline cartilage,the
smaller chondrocytes
are dispersed evenly.
1
2. Proliferating zone：
the chondrocytes
divide rapidly and
forming many
clusters ,they run along
the long axis of the
long bone .
3 .the calcified
cartilage zone：
The chodrocytes
enlarge with foamy
shaped cytoplasm and
pyknotic nucleus.
2
3
1 Proliferating zone
2 hypertrophic
cartilage zone
3.Calcified cartilage
zone:Chondrocytes
enlarge greatly with
vacuolated cytoplasm
and pyknotic nuclei.
4.ossification zone：
the chondrocytes
degenerate and the
lacunae of calcified
matrix were destroyed
forming tunnels called
primary bone marrow
cavity filled with
hematopoietic tissue.
1
2
3
4
1
2
1.zone of calcification 2.zone ossification
found trabeculae and hematopoietic tissue.
Osteogenic zone：
1.bone marrow cavity
2.developing trabecula
= woven bone
3.osteoblasts attach
to the surface of
trabeculae.
4.osteocyte
1
3
2
4
1.periosteum
2.bone collar : spongy
bone
3 .bone marrow
cavity :hematopoietic
tissue.
2
3
4.developing trabecula:
The trabecula with
central calcified
cartilage matrix gray
in color.
4
1
High manification:
Observe the osteoblasts
and osteoclasts in the
osteogenic zone.
1.osteoblast:
The osteoblasts are
cuboidal or low
columnar in shape
attaching to the
periphery of trabeculae
arranging side by side.
with basophilic
cytoplasm.
2.osteocyte: situated in
the lamellar bone of the
trabeculae.
2
1
High magnification of the
osteogenic zone:
Focusing the osteoclasts:
1.osteoclasts: multinucleate
1
Large cells contain many
nuclei always located in the
depression zone of
trabeculae.
2.developing trabeculae
contain calcified cartilage
matrix.
3.bone marrow cavity:
Contain hemapoietic tissue.
2
3