Elastic fibrocartilage
Elastic fibrocartilage
Elastic fibrocartilage (pronunciation: e-las-tic fi-bro-car-ti-lage) is a type of cartilage that contains a high proportion of elastic fibers, giving it flexibility and resilience.
Etymology
The term "elastic fibrocartilage" is derived from three words: "elastic", which comes from the Greek word "elastikos" meaning "able to spring back", "fibro" from the Latin word "fibra" meaning "fiber", and "cartilage" from the Latin word "cartilago" meaning "gristle or hard flesh".
Definition
Elastic fibrocartilage is a specialized type of connective tissue that provides both strength and elasticity to certain parts of the body. It is primarily found in areas that require both rigidity and flexibility, such as the ear and the epiglottis.
Structure
The structure of elastic fibrocartilage is characterized by a dense network of elastic fibers embedded in a chondrocyte-rich matrix. These chondrocytes, or cartilage cells, produce the elastic fibers and the ground substance that make up the matrix.
Function
The primary function of elastic fibrocartilage is to provide flexibility while maintaining structural integrity. The high concentration of elastic fibers allows this type of cartilage to deform under pressure, but then return to its original shape when the pressure is removed.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Elastic fibrocartilage
- Wikipedia's article - Elastic fibrocartilage
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