Overview
This lecture focuses on the microscopic features of hyaline cartilage, including its cellular components and surrounding tissues as seen under magnification.
Microscopic Structure of Hyaline Cartilage
- Hyaline cartilage appears in the center of the slide, surrounded by adipose (fat) tissue above and below.
- The image is viewed at 100x total magnification.
- Hyaline cartilage contains circular or oval structures known as lacunae.
- Inside each lacuna is a chondrocyte, which is a mature cartilage cell responsible for maintaining the cartilage.
- The space between lacunae is filled with extracellular matrix (ECM), which is gel-like in nature.
- Fibers are present in the ECM but are typically not visible due to staining methods.
- The key features distinguishing connective tissue in hyaline cartilage are: chondrocytes, lacunae, and ECM with embedded fibers.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Hyaline cartilage — a type of connective tissue with a gel-like matrix housing cells and fibers, commonly found in joints.
- Adipose tissue — connective tissue that stores fat.
- Chondrocyte — mature cell within cartilage that maintains the ECM.
- Lacunae — small cavities in cartilage that house chondrocytes.
- Extracellular matrix (ECM) — the non-cellular, gel-like substance surrounding lacunae, containing fibers.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the microscopic features and identification of hyaline cartilage for future lab assessments.
- Study the definitions and roles of key terms related to cartilage histology.