Cart
Cartilage
Cartilage (/ˈkɑːrtɪlɪdʒ/; from Latin: cartilago) is a resilient and smooth elastic tissue, a rubber-like padding that covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints, and is a structural component of the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the bronchial tubes, the intervertebral discs, and many other body components. It is not as hard and rigid as bone, but it is much stiffer and much less flexible than muscle.
Etymology
The word cartilage is derived from Latin cartilago, meaning "gristle".
Types of Cartilage
There are three types of cartilage:
- Hyaline cartilage - The most abundant type of cartilage in the body, and it is found at the ends of long bones, the rib cage, the nose, and the larynx.
- Elastic cartilage - This type of cartilage is found in the outer ear, Eustachian tube and epiglottis. It contains elastic fiber networks and collagen type II fibers.
- Fibrocartilage - This is the toughest form of cartilage and it contains a dense collection of collagen type I fibers. It is found in areas of the body where a lot of pressure is applied, such as the intervertebral discs and the knees.
Related Terms
- Chondrocyte - The only cells found in healthy cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans.
- Chondrogenesis - The process by which cartilage is developed.
- Osteoarthritis - A type of joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone.
- Rheumatoid arthritis - A long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cart
- Wikipedia's article - Cart
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