BIOC33H3 Lecture Notes - Chondroblast, Hyaline Cartilage, Perichondrium
Document Summary
Check out the pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium on the luminal surface, then move to the pale cartilage in the centre part of the section. The large cells in this tissue with dark nuclei and purple granular cytoplasm are chondrocytes. They can exist alone or in clusters of two or more. Chondocytes produce the pale staining stuff" that surround the cells, called cartilage matrix. It consists of large irregularly arranged proteins collagen and proteoglycans. The cartilage tissue is surrounded by fibrous perichondrium which is a regular arrangement of collagen; the nuclei visible, long and skinny and dark, are of fibroblasts. This is the same type of cartilage that is found on the articular surfaces of bones in synovial joints (and breaks down in arthritis). In the centre of this section you can see pale staining tissue with obvious regions of adipose tissue. The pale blue staining area is elastic cartilage, and consists of chondrocytes, cartilage matrix and elastic fibres.