Cartilage: Properties, Structure, and Functions in Connective Tissue

Special Connective Tissues

The special connective tissues include:

• Cartilage
• Bone
• Haemopoietic tissue
• Blood
• Lymph

Cartilage

Question 1. What is cartilage? List its properties.
Answer.

Cartilage is a modified connective tissue. It consists of all the three components of connective tissue, but differs from connective tissue proper in the sense that its ground substance is made up of gel-like material (containing chondromucoprotein), which provides it firmness and elasticity.

Properties Of Cartilage

• Cartilage is firm in consistency.
• Cartilage is relatively avascular.
• Cartilage derives its nutrition from adjacent tissues by diffusion or through small vessels passing through cartilaginous canals.
• Cartilage has limited regeneration capacity.
• Cartilage is prone to undergo calcification with advancing age.
• Cartilage is usually surrounded by a fibrovascular membrane called perichondrium.
• Cartilage forms part of body skeleton.
• Cartilage has no lymphatics.
• Cartilage has no nerves; hence, it is insensitive to pain.
• Cartilage growth occurs by appositional growth as well as interstitial growth.