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Cartilage
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Cartilage is a connective tissue, meaning one of those tissues whose job is to support and bind. Its matrix houses the chondrocytes, the cells of cartilage, and each one sits enclosed in a space called a lacuna. On the outside it is wrapped in a layer of dense irregular connective tissue called the perichondrium.
And there is one detail that explains almost everything that happens to it: cartilage is avascular, meaning it has no blood vessels. Blood never reaches the chondrocytes, so every nutrient has to diffuse, that is, seep slowly, through the matrix to get to them. A tissue that feeds by a trickle repairs by a trickle, and that contributes to how slowly cartilage heals.
There is also more than one kind. Hyaline is the most common and has short, scattered collagen fibers. Fibrocartilage is tough because its matrix is crossed by thick bundles. And elastic cartilage provides rigid support and elasticity at the same time: it holds things up, and it also springs back to its original shape.
In brief
Cartilage is a connective tissue whose matrix houses chondrocytes, its resident cells, in spaces called lacunae; a layer of dense irregular connective tissue, the perichondrium, encases it.
It is avascular, so every nutrient has to diffuse through the matrix to reach the chondrocytes, which contributes to its very slow healing.
Its three types are hyaline, the most common, with short, scattered collagen; fibrocartilage, tough because of its thick bundles; and elastic, which provides rigid support along with elasticity.
Sources (2)
- OpenStax, Rice UniversityAnatomy and Physiology 2e, 4.3 Connective Tissue Supports and ProtectsPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationAnatomy, Cartilage. StatPearls
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