hyaline cartilage

(noun)

A type of cartilage found on many joint surfaces; it contains no nerves or blood vessels, and its structure is relatively simple.

Related Terms

  • temporal mandibular joint
  • Chondrocytes
  • chondroitin sulfate
  • connective tissue

Examples of hyaline cartilage in the following topics:

  • Bone Development

    • Before this time, the embryonic skeleton consists entirely of fibrous membranes and hyaline cartilage.
    • The development of bone from fibrous membranes is called intramembranous ossification; development from hyaline cartilage is called endochondral ossification.
    • Endochondral ossification is the process of bone development from hyaline cartilage.
    • In long bones, chondrocytes form a template of the hyaline cartilage diaphysis.
    • Endochondral ossification is the process of bone development from hyaline cartilage.
  • Cartilaginous Joints: Synchodroses

    • Cartilaginous joints are connected entirely by cartilage (fibrocartilage or hyaline).
    • Where the connecting medium is hyaline cartilage, a cartilaginous joint is termed a synchondrosis or primary cartilaginous joint.
    • In this example, the rib articulates with the sternum via the costal cartilage.
    • The epiphyseal plate is a hyaline cartilage plate in the metaphysis at each end of a long bone.
    • Section through occipitosphenoid synchondrosis of an infant, including the cartilage, perichrondrium, and periosteum.
  • Bone Repair

    • The periosteal cells proximal (closest) to the fracture gap develop into chondroblasts that form hyaline cartilage.
    • The fibroblasts within the granulation tissue develop into chondroblasts that also form hyaline cartilage.
    • Eventually, the fracture gap is bridged by the hyaline cartilage and woven bone, restoring some of its original strength.
    • The next phase is the replacement of the hyaline cartilage and woven bone with lamellar bone.
    • Substitution of the woven bone with lamellar bone precedes the substitution of the hyaline cartilage with lamellar bone.
  • Structure, Type, and Location of Cartilage

    • In the embryo, bones form first as hyaline cartilage before ossifying as development progresses.
    • Hyaline cartilage is found on many joint surfaces.
    • Elastic cartilage is histologically similar to hyaline cartilage but contains many yellow elastic fibers lying in a solid matrix.
    • Images of microscopic views of the different types of cartilage: elastic, hyaline, and fibrous.
    • Elastic cartilage has the most ECM; hyaline a middle amount; and fibrous cartilage has the least amount of ECM.
  • Connective Tissues: Loose, Fibrous, and Cartilage

    • A cartilage with few collagen and elastic fibers is hyaline cartilage.
    • Hyaline cartilage is also found at the ends of long bones, reducing friction and cushioning the articulations of these bones.
    • For example, hyaline cartilage found in movable joints, such as the knee and shoulder, often becomes damaged as a result of age or trauma.
    • Damaged hyaline cartilage is replaced by fibrocartilage, resulting in "stiff" joints.
    • Hyaline cartilage consists of a matrix with cells called chondrocytes (shown here) embedded in it.
  • Classification of Joints on the Basis of Structure and Function

    • Cartilaginous joints are those in which the bones are connected by cartilage.
    • In a synchondrosis, the bones are joined by hyaline cartilage.
    • In symphyses, hyaline cartilage covers the end of the bone, but the connection between bones occurs through fibrocartilage.
    • The ends of the bones are covered with articular cartilage, a hyaline cartilage.
  • Types of Connective Tissue

    • Cartilage is composed of specialized cells called chondroblasts and, unlike other connective tissues, cartilage does not contain blood vessels.
    • Cartilage is classified in three types: 1) elastic cartilage, 2) hyaline cartilage, and 3) fibrocartilage, which differ in the relative amounts of these three main components.
    • This is similar to hyaline cartilage but is more elastic in nature.
    • It is a major part of the embryonic skeleton, the costal cartilages of the ribs, and the cartilage of the nose, trachea, and larynx.
    • This is a blend of hyaline cartilage and dense regular connective tissue.
  • Cartilage Growth

    • The division of cells within cartilage occurs very slowly.
    • Therefore, growth in cartilage is usually not based on an increase in size or mass of the cartilage itself.
    • 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.
    • Damaged hyaline cartilage is usually replaced by fibrocartilage scar tissue.
    • However, due to the extremely slow growth of cartilage and its avascular properties, regeneration and growth of cartilage post-injury is still very slow.
  • Development of Joints

    • Articular cartilage is a flexible material found between bones at movable joints.
    • Following the initial chondrification that occurs during embryogenesis, cartilage growth consists mostly of the maturing of immature cartilage to a more mature state.
    • The division of cells within cartilage occurs very slowly, and thus growth in cartilage is usually not based on an increase in size or mass of the cartilage itself.
    • Articular cartilage is maintained by embedded chondrocytes that comprise only 1% of the cartilage volume, and 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.
    • Histological image of the hyaline cartilage which coats the articular surfaces of joints.
  • Postnatal Bone Growth

    • The diaphysis and both epiphyses of a long bone are separated by a growing zone of cartilage (the epiphyseal plate).
    • This process involves replacing the hyaline cartilage, initially present at the epiphyseal region, with active osteoblasts that deposit bone structural proteins.
    • Zone of reserve cartilage: This region is farthest from the marrow cavity and consists of hyaline cartilage that does not actively transform into bone.
    • Pictured is part of a longitudinal section of a rabbit's developing femur, with parts including: a) Flattened cartilage cells; b) Enlarged cartilage cells; c), d) Newly formed bone; e) Osteoblasts; f) Giant cells or osteoclasts; g), h) Shrunken cartilage cells.
    • Differentiate among the zones of development from cartilage to bone in postnatal ossification
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