From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cartilage
is a
flexible
connective tissue
found in many parts of the body. It can bend a bit, but resists
stretching
.
Its main function is to connect
bones
together. It is also found in the
joints
, the
rib cage
, the
ear
, the
nose
, the
throat
and between the bones of the back. Another function of cartilage is to create a place on which bones can form when they are first developed. It also helps to protect the places where bones work against each other: the joints. In some fish like
sharks
(
Chondrichthyes
), cartilage forms the whole of the skeleton.
Unlike other connective
tissues
, cartilage does not contain
blood vessels
. The cells are supplied by
diffusion
. So, compared to other connective tissues, cartilage grows and repairs more slowly. Cartilage also does not contain
nerves
, making the hard tissue painless if damage is caused. However, the breaking of a cartilage often results in damage to
tendons
and
muscles
, which causes
pain
.
There are many diseases caused by defects in cartilage. One of the most common is
osteoarthritis
, where the cartilage wears so thin that bone rubs against bone. Cartilage acts as a barrier, preventing the entry of
lymphocytes
or diffusion of
immunoglobulins
. This allows
surgeons
to
transplant
of cartilage from one person to another without fear of
tissue rejection
.
Cartilage is made of special
cells
(called chondroblasts) that produce a large amount of
matrix
outside the cells. The matrix is composed of
- collagen
fibres
,
- a ground substance rich in proteoglycan. This is a
protein
linked to
glycans
.
[1]
- different types of fibres. These are
collagen
,
elastin
and reticulate fibers.
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Cartilage
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