Cartilage

Cartilage is a type of dense connective tissue. Cartilage is composed of cells called chondrocytes which are dispersed in a firm gel-like ground substance, called the matrix. Cartilage contains no blood vessels and nutrients are diffused through the matrix. Cartilage is found in the joints, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, in the throat and between intervertebral disks. There are three main types of cartilage: hyaline, elastic and fibrocartilage.

Perichondrium

The perichondrium is a tissue layer that lines most types of cartilage. There are two distinct layers, an outer fibrous layer and inner chondrogenic layer. The fibrous layer contains fibroblasts which can produce collagen fibers while the inner layer contains undifferentiated or osteogenic cells capable of forming chondrocytes. If cartilage is transformed to bone, the perichondrium becomes the periosteum.

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