Elastic Cartilage Histology Short Note For Medical Exams

Elastic Cartilage Histology Short Note For Medical Exams

Write a short note on the elastic cartilage.
Answer.

The elastic cartilage is also called yellow elastic cartilage.

Histological features

• It appears yellowish in fresh sections due to the presence of yellow elastic fibres.
• It contains large number of branching and anastomosing yellow elastic fibres in its ground substance. They are continuous with those of perichondrium.
• Its chondrocytes are larger, more numerous and closely packed than those of hyaline cartilage.
• The chondrocytes are seen in lacunae simply or in groups of two.
• It is covered by perichondrium.

Functions of elastic cartilage in one paragraph

Histology of elastic cartilage explained step by step

Function

Provides not only shape and support to the organ but also elasticity/pliability.

Sites of distribution

Pinna of external ear, epiglottis, eustachian tube, etc.