1. Hyaline cartilage (collagen II + matrix) 2. Fibrous connective tissue (Collagen I) (perichondrium) 3. Respiratory epithelium 4.

Mucous-secreting glands stained turquoise, indicating presence of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) 5. Goblet cells in respiratory epithelium, stained turquoise, indicating presence of glycosaminoglycans 6. Adipocytes

Hyaline cartilage 1. Cartilage matrix. Consists of type II collagen (tiny fibrils not visible by light microscopy) and proteoglycans (PGs): Appears homogeneous Note absence of blood vessels in this simple tissue 2. Chondrocytes in small clusters. Note territorial turquoise staining around cells - indicates glycosaminoglycan synthesis by chondrocytes - i.e. locally higher concentrations 3. Perichondrium - containing chondrocyte precursors, type 1 collagen. Small blood vessels also present (not clearly visible).

This is a synovial joint

The ends of two long bones connected by a cruciate ligament can be seen. The articular surface is indicated by the boxed area at the upper left

Articular surface and subchondral bone of adult cat 1. Articular cartilage 2. Subchondral bone 3. Adipocytes in marrow cavity Note: there are no epiphyseal growth plates in mature bones as there is no longer any growth and endochondral ossification.

Articular surface and subchondral bone of adult cat 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Articular surface Synovial space Articular cartilage Subchondral bone Adipocytes in marrow cavity

Note the smooth articular surface charcteristic of young, healthy animals (& humans)

1. Hyaline cartilage matrix 2. Chondrocytes arranged in small clusters, reflecting limited intersitial proliferation 3. Mineralised articular cartilage - chondrocytes also present, but less distinct The white arrows show the "tidemark zone" of advancing mineralisation 4. Subchondral bone (stained bright red/orange). The wavy junction between the bone and the mineralised cartilage is indicated by the white arrow heads. 5. Osteocytes in subchondral bone

Note: there are extensive blood vessels in the bone, but as soon as they reach the cartilage they stop cartilage remains avascular.

This is a section cut from a decalcified knee joint from a growing animal (kitten)

Diagonal black box links to the region of the synovial joint between the two bones Large black box links to growing long bone Small black box links to higher magnification of articular cartilage

Thick, cellular hyaline cartilage covering articular surface of growing knee joint 1. Articular surface (white arrow heads) 2. Complex of blood vessels deep in growing cartilage Blood vessels are occasionally present in rapidly growing cartilage, reflecting the relatively high metabolic demands of such tissue, but are essentially absent from adult cartilage. NOTE 3 key differences between the cartilage of growing and mature long bones: Growing long bones have epiphyseal plates Rapidly growing cartilage may have some blood vessels. Rapidly growing cartilage is more cellular

Growing long bone: 1. Epiphyseal growth plate cartilage 2. Secondary ossification centre 3. Diaphyseal marrow cavity Features 1 and 2 both contain rapidly modelling / remodelling bony trabeculae and haemopoietic marrow

Immature knee: Overview of epiphyseal growth plate and endochondral ossification This image illustrates the highly organised structure of the epiphyseal growth plate 1. Chondrocytes proliferate to generate columns of progeny cells that secrete cartilage matrix (stained grey / pale mauve). 2. The chondrocytes then hypertrophy progressively 3. The cartilage matrix around them begins to mineralise (staining becomes more purple). 4. At the edge (r.) of the growth plate blood vessels attack the mineralised cartilage: the hypertrophic chondrocytes seem to disappear (most probably die by apoptosis) but the mineralised cartilage matrix around them persists. 5. Osteoblasts (bone forming cells) immediately start to deposit new bone matrix on the 'scaffolding' provided by the extruded ribbons of mineralised cartilage. Thus, the growth plate effectively advances in the direction of the large white arrow. This provides a mechanism for the rapid, controlled elongation of the long bones. The newly forming ribbons of trabecular bone provide the necessary structural strength to enable the bone to fulfil its mechanical functions during growth. Most of this bone is quite rapidly remodelled as growth proceeds, to accomodate the continually changing mechanical requirements

At the edge (r.) of the growth plate blood vessels attack the mineralised cartilage (white arrowheads) 1. Zone of resting (reserve) cartilage 2. Zone of proliferating chondrocytes (5. Proliferating chondrocytes secreting (initially unmineralised) cartilage matrix) 3. Zone of hypertrophy 4. Mineralising cartilage matrix around hypertrophic chondrocytes

Endochondral ossification Intense cellular activity is evident in this complex, rapidly evolving tissue: 1. Zone of hypertrophy 2. Ribbons of mineralised cartilage matrix 3. New bone matrix (stained orange) being deposited on mineralised cartilage "scaffolding" (stained purple) by osteoblasts (bone forming cells).

Neonatal Human Pinna: Verhoeff's stain for elastic fibres (very low power) fibrocartilage Pinna is the outer ear The central plate of cartilage is very cellular, and the matrix is stained darkly because of the abundant elastic fibres (black) it contains

The surface of the section is covered by typical thin skin, with hairs and sebaceous glands

1. Elastic cartilage This is essentially hyaline cartilage, with the addition of elastic fibres to make the tissue more springy 2. Perichondrium (collagen I) 3. Thin stratified squamous epithelium 4. Sebaceous glands

1. Elastic cartilage 2. Chondrocytes - note similar appearance to those in simple hyaline cartilage. This cartilage is more cellular than hyaline cartilage. 3. Perichondrium, consisting of coarse type 1 collagen fibres (pink) and elastic fibres (black) 4. Elastic fibres

Hyaline cartilage in human fetal rib 1. Cartilage 2. Muscle

Hyaline cartilage in human fetal rib 1. Cartilage. White arrow heads indicate chondrocytes; this immature (ie growing) hyaline cartilage is relatively cellular. o Can you identify collagen fibres in the matrix? o What is the matrix composed of? 2. Chondrogenic layer of perichondrium Enables appositional growth

3. Fibrous tissue (type 1 collagen fibres) 4. Blocks of skeletal muscle cut in various orientations. 5. Adipose tissue (clusters of adipocytes)