ANAT 309 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Bronchus, Chondroitin, Elastic Fiber

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Anatomy and Cell Biology
• Course: ANAT 309
• Professor: Frederick K W Kan

Document Summary

Cartilage is a specialized form of connective tissue. Cartilage supports soft tissue, such as epithelium. This can be clearly seen in the trachea. Cartilage provides a sliding surface for joints to facilitate movements of developing long bones. Cartilage is made of three main components: chondrocytes, collagen fibers, and the ground substance. Cartilage [except articular cartilage] is surrounded by the perichondrium, a layer of dense ct. Chondrocytes are rounded cells, with eccentric nuclei and prominent nucleoli. They synthesize and secrete the collagen fibers and the ground substance. Lacunae are the potential spaces occupied by chondrocytes. [territorial] matrix is the glycosaminoglycan rich matrix immediately surrounding a chondrocyte. Intercapsular [inter-territorial] matrix is matrix between lacunae; it is rich in type ii collagen. The ground substance contains proteoglycans; the proteoglycans contain core proteins with side chains, composed of glycosaminoglycans. The abundant glycosaminoglycans are chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid. Link proteins attach the proteoglycans to the hyaluronic acid.