Histology · Connective tissue, cartilage and bone
Cartilage: hyaline, elastic, fibrocartilage !
- Tissue
Cartilage is a firm, flexible tissue with no blood vessels: it lines joints, shapes the ear and airway, and cushions the spine.
Updated 2026-11-01
See it in 3D: Femoral cartilage · Medial meniscus · Epiglottis · Thyroid cartilage · Auricle · Pubic symphysis
What it is
Cartilage is a connective tissue of chondrocytes living in small spaces (lacunae) inside a firm, water-rich matrix of collagen and proteoglycans. It has no blood vessels, nerves or lymphatics, so it is fed by diffusion and heals poorly. There are three types, told apart by their fibres: hyaline (type II collagen), elastic (plus elastic fibres) and fibrocartilage (plus thick type I bundles).
Structure
- Chondrocytes sit in lacunae; after dividing, daughter cells stay together as isogenous groups of two to eight cells.
- Hyaline matrix looks glassy, pale blue-purple on H&E (basophilic because of sulfated proteoglycans); the darker rim around each lacuna is the territorial matrix.
- Perichondrium: dense connective tissue around most cartilage, with chondroblasts in its inner layer; articular cartilage and fibrocartilage lack it.
- Elastic cartilage has a dense dark network of elastic fibres (clear with Verhoeff or orcein) around the lacunae.
- Fibrocartilage shows rows of chondrocytes between thick pink collagen bundles, like a mix of tendon and cartilage.
Function
- Hyaline: smooth low-friction joint surface and template for bone growth.
- Elastic: keeps its shape after bending (ear, epiglottis).
- Fibrocartilage: resists compression and tearing (discs, menisci).
- Growth: appositional (from the perichondrium) and interstitial (chondrocytes dividing inside the matrix).
The three cartilage types
| Type | Fibres | Perichondrium | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyaline | Type II collagen (fine, invisible on H&E) | Yes, except articular cartilage | Joint surfaces, costal cartilages, nose, trachea and bronchi, larynx (thyroid and cricoid), growth plate, fetal skeleton |
| Elastic | Type II collagen + elastic fibres | Yes | Auricle, external acoustic meatus, auditory tube, epiglottis |
| Fibrocartilage | Type I + type II collagen, thick bundles | No | Intervertebral disc (anulus fibrosus), menisci, pubic symphysis, articular discs, some tendon insertions |
Clinical notes
- Osteoarthritis: articular hyaline cartilage loses proteoglycans, fibrillates and wears away; bone underneath becomes polished (eburnation) and forms osteophytes.
- Adult articular cartilage has no perichondrium and no vessels, so full-thickness defects heal with weaker fibrocartilage.
- Meniscal tears often fail to heal in the inner, avascular part of the meniscus.
- Disc herniation: the nucleus pulposus pushes through a torn anulus fibrosus of fibrocartilage.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which cartilage type forms the epiglottis and the auricle?
Elastic cartilage.
Which collagen type dominates fibrocartilage, in addition to type II?
Type I collagen, in thick bundles that resist tension and compression.
What are isogenous groups?
Small clusters of chondrocytes in one lacuna or adjacent lacunae, formed by division of a single cell during interstitial growth.
Why does articular cartilage heal so poorly?
It has no blood vessels and no perichondrium, so there is no source of new cells or nutrients beyond slow diffusion from synovial fluid.
Which cartilages of the larynx are hyaline and which is elastic?
The thyroid and cricoid cartilages (and most of the arytenoids) are hyaline; the epiglottis is elastic cartilage.
See it in 3D
The structures of Durgical's 3D anatomy where it is found.
Related
- Connective tissue proper: cells and fibres
- Ossification, growth plate and bone remodeling
- Bone tissue: cells, compact and spongy bone
- The airway: from nose to bronchioles
- Extracellular matrix: collagen types, elastin, ground substance
Related conditions
Educational content on normal microscopic structure and its clinical relevance; no substitute for studying slides or for a health professional's advice.
Sources: 4.3 Connective Tissue Supports and Protects (OpenStax, 2022); Osteoarthritis (MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025); Connective Tissue (National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules, 2024).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.