Overview
This lecture explains how to identify the three types of cartilage—hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage—by examining their microscopic features, particularly lacunae and fibers.
Types of Cartilage
- The three types of cartilage are hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage.
- All cartilages have lacunae, which are empty spaces, and chondrocytes, the cartilage cells living in lacunae.
Identifying Cartilage Types
- To identify cartilage, ask: What is between the lacunae? How far apart are the lacunae?
- Hyaline cartilage looks glassy with no visible fibers between lacunae.
- Elastic cartilage has visible elastic fibers between lacunae, usually stained purple.
- Fibrocartilage has visible fibrous, stringy fibers between lacunae, which are spaced farther apart than in elastic cartilage.
- Fibrocartilage fibers can resemble "ramen noodles."
- Elastic cartilage lacunae are close together, and purple-stained fibers are seen in between.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cartilage — A type of connective tissue with cells (chondrocytes) in lacunae.
- Lacunae — Empty spaces in cartilage where chondrocytes reside.
- Chondrocyte — The living cell found inside the lacuna of cartilage.
- Hyaline cartilage — Cartilage with a glassy appearance and no visible fibers.
- Elastic cartilage — Cartilage with visible, purple-stained elastic fibers and closely spaced lacunae.
- Fibrocartilage — Cartilage with fibrous, stringy fibers and widely spaced lacunae.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice identifying cartilage type on microscope slides by examining lacunae spacing and fiber visibility.