Cartilage and Bone Tissue

Histology Dept
Unsoed

Cartilage and Bone

Specialized connective tissue
Consist of cellular components
(chondrocyte etc) and extracellullar
matrix.
Cellular component secrets matrix
and become trapped in the matrix.
Supporting body tissue
Skeletal system

Cartilage
Specialized connective tissue with
very firm extracellular matrix.
Function:
Support soft tissues (nose, ear, trachea)
Shock absorption (intervertebral disks)
Friction reduction in joints (articulating
surfaces of the bones)
Development and growth of long bones
(epiphyseal plate of femur, tibia, etc)

Cartilage
Location
Ear and nose
Respiratory system
Movable joints
Costal cartilage
Intervertebral disks
Pubic symphysis
Embryonic

Cartilage Tissue
Specialized Connective tissue, consist of:
Cartilage cells : have low metabolic activity,
location within lacunae.
Matrix: hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans,
glycoproteins associated with collagen and
elastic fibers
Avascular, No nerves, No lymphatic vessels
Perichondrium (+) / (-)
60-80% : water-transparant & resilient ability of
cartilage to resists forces of compression
3 variances:
Hyaline cartilage
Elastic cartilage
Fibrocartilage

Cartilage Cells and Cartilage Matrix

1. Cartilage cells:
a. Chondrogenic cells
b. Chondroblast
c. Chondrocyte
2. Matrix of cartilage
Regions:
a. Territorial matrix
b. Inter-territorial matrix
Components :
c. Fibrils: Type I Collagen, type II Collagen, Elastic
d. Glycosaminoglicans: chondroitin 4-sulfate,
chondroitin 6-sulfate, hialuronic acid, keratan
sulfate dan heparan sulfate.

Cartilage

Cartilage Tissue

Cartilage Cells
a.Chondrogenic cells
Spindle shaped, narrow cells
Derived from mesenchymal cells
Ovoid nucleus, with one or two nucleoli
Sparse cytoplasm, small Golgi apparatus, RER,
ribosom
Can differentiate into chondroblast and
osteoprogenitor cells
b.Chondroblast
Derived from mesenchymal cells and chondrogenic
cells
Plump, basophillic cells, have organelles
RER, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, secretory
vesicles
c. Chondrocyte
Near periphery : ovoid; deeper : rounded, 10-30
m

Cartilage Cells

Hyaline Cartilage

Most abundant
Bluish-gray/Blue-white in color, semitransluscent
Basophilic matrix
Network of collagen fibers (type II)
Perichondrium (+)
In embryo it serves as skeleton until replacement
by bone
Epiphyseal plate in long bone growth
Locations :
Articular surfaces,
Respiration tree : nose, larynx, trachea,
bronchi
ends of ribs adjacent to sternum

Hyaline Cartilage

Hyaline Cartilage

Elastic Cartilage
Similar to HC, many elastic fibers, type II
collagen fibers
Yellowish color, more opaque than hyaline
cartilage
Perichondrium (+)
Locations :
Auricle of ear
External auditory canal
Eustachian tube
Epiglottis
Cuneiform cartilage of larynx

Elastic Cartilage

Elastic Cartilage

Elastic Cartilage

Elastic Cartilage

Fibrocartilage
Bundles of type I collagen fibers in rows
Usually merges with adjacent dense
connective tissue
Chondrocytes often in rows or groups
Matrix acidophilic due to high collagen (type
I)
No perichondrium
Locations :
Intervertebral disks
Pubic symphysis
tendon and ligament attachment to bone
Menisci

Fibrocartila
ge:
location

Fibrocartilage

Fibrocartilage

Differences
Type of
cartilage

Identifying
characteristics

Perichondrium Location

Hyaline
cartilage

Type II collagen,
basophilic
matrix,
chondrocytes in
groups

Present,
exceptions:
articular
surface &
epiphyses

Elastic
cartilage

Type II collagen, present

elastic fibers >>,
chondrocytes in
groups

Fibrocartilage type I collagen,

acidophillic
matrix,
chondrocyt in
paralel rows

absent

Articular ends of long

bones, nose, larynx,
trachea, bronchi,
ventral ends of ribs

Auricula, walls of
auditory canal,
auditory tube,
epiglottis, cuneiform
cartilage of larynx
Intervertebral disks,
articular disks, pubic
symphysis, insertion
of some tendons

Histogenesis & Growth of

cartilage
Mesenchimal cells differentiate into
chondroblast
Chondroblast secrets extracelullar matrix
Chondroblast entrapped in their own matrix
in small individual compartements (lacuna)
chondrocytes
Chondrocytes are still capable of cell
division forming a cluster of cells
isogenous group
Cartilage growth:
Interstitial growth

Interstitial growth
Chondrocytes in lacuna are capable
of cell division, forming a cluster cells
known as isogenous group (daughter
cells)
Cells in isogenous group secret
matrix and pushed away from each
other, forming separate lacuna and
enlarging cartilage from inside to
every direction.

Interstitial
growth

Appositional Growth
Mesenchymal cells at the periphery of the
cartilage differentiate to form fibroblast
Fibroblast manufacture a dense irregular
collagenous connective tissue called
perichondrium
Perichondrium has 2 layer
- outer fibrous layer
- inner cellular layer chondrogenic cells
Chondrogenic cells undergo division and
differentiate into chondroblast
Chondroblast secrets matrix entrapped in their
lacunae chondrocytes.
Cartilage grows by adding to its periphery.

Appositional
growth

Cartilage Growth
Appositional growth
From perichondrium
differentiation of new
chondrocytes from stem
cells and production of
matrix at surface
Interstitial growth
By chondrocytes within
cartilage
mitotic division of existing
chondrocytes and
production of matrix
No new chondrocytes in adults
and no cartilage growth

Bone Tissue
Special Connective tissue
Bone matrix : one of the hardest
tissue
Calcium Hydroxy-apatite >>
Celullar and matrix components

Bone Functions

Support body weight

Protect soft organs
Hematopoiesis
Assistance in movements
Mineral homeostasis

Bone cells and Bone matrix

Bone cells
Osteoprogenitor cells
Osteoblasts
Osteocytes
Osteoclasts
Bone matrix
Inorganic component crystals of calcium
hydroxyapatite
Organic component
type I collagen (80-90 %)
proteoglicans

Bone Cells
Osteoprogenitor cells

Derived from embryonic mesenchyme

May differentiate into osteoblast or chondrogenic cells
Spindle shaped, pale-staining oval nucleus

Osteoblasts

Derived from osteoprogenitor cells

Located in the surface of the bone as a layer of cuboid to
columnar cells
Synthesis organic components of bone matrix each cells
surrounds itself with matrix trapped in their own lacuna
osteocyte
Osteoblasts cell membranes rich of enzyme alkali phosphatase

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells, located within lacuna

Radiates cytoplasmic processes in canaliculi
Flat nucleus, poor organelles cytoplasm

Osteoclasts

Large, motile, multinucleated cells, originating from

macrophage
Located within Howships lacunae

BONE CELLS

Bone Cells

Osteoclasts Function

Osteocytes
Located within
lacunae (cavities) in
lamellae
Canaliculi allow
processes of
osteocytes to
communicate with
each other & with
capillaries

Decalcified vs Ground
Sections
Decalcified sections

Ground sections

Decalcifying the bone in acid

solutions

Sawing & grinding the bone

Presenting bone cells

Presenting lacuna &

canaliculi

Matrix component destroyed

(decalcified)

Cellular components
destroyed

Decalcified Sections

Decalcified Sections

Ground sections

Groud
Section

Compact vs. Spongy

Bone
Compact solid,
weight-bearing,
structural support
Spongy marrow
cavity, trabeculae,
light weight

Compact &
Spongy Bone

Periosteum

Fibrous layer dense irregular CT

Cellular layer osteoblasts & osteoclasts
Nerves
Blood vessels
Sharpeys fibers
Attachment for tendons

Endosteum
Inner surface of compact bone
Covers trabeculae
Osteoblasts & osteoclasts

ENDOSTEUM & PERIOSTEUM

Long Bones
Diaphysis shaft
Epiphyses ends
Epiphyseal plate/line growth
region
Nutrient arteries to marrow
and compact bone

Compact Bone Histology

Osteon / Haversian system
Structural unit of long bone
Cylindrical
Parallel to bone

Concentric lamellae
Collagen fibers in different directions
Increase strength

Compact Bone Histology

Interstitial lamellae

Circumferential
lamellae
Inner & outer

Compact Bone Histology

Central /
Haversian Canals
Perforating /
Volkmanns
Canals
Endosteum
Blood vessels
Nerves

Compa
ct Bone
Histolo
gy

Bone Formation
Osteogenesis development of the
skeleton and growth through
adolescence (~18 females, ~21
males)
Osteoblasts secrete osteoid
Osteoid is mineralized (calcium
phosphate precipitates)
Osteoblasts become osteocytes
Forms woven bone (immature)
Periosteum formed
Mature lamellar bone formed on

Intramembranous
Ossification
Flat bone develops from mesenchyme
(undifferentiated, embryonic CT)
Skull and clavicle
Mesenchymal cells become osteoblasts
Osteoblasts form bone

Intramembraneous
ossification

Intramembraneous Ossification

Intramembrane
ous ossification

Intramembraneo
us ossification

Intramembraneo
us ossification

Endochondral ossification
Hyaline cartilage model of
bone first
Cartilage is replaced by bone
Long bone

Endochondral
Ossification

Remodelling :
osteoclast &

Endochondral Ossification

Endochondral Ossification

Reserve Cartilage

Zone of Cartilage
Proliferation

Zone of Cartilage
Maturation

Hypertrophy &
calcification
Zone of Degeneration

THANK YOU