Hyaline Cartilage – Tutorial
Please read Unit 2 – Introduction to Connective Tissues prior to completing the activities in this chapter.
Introduction to Hyaline Cartilage
Hyaline cartilage is a supportive connective tissue with a rigid yet slightly flexible extracellular matrix. Although hyaline cartilage feels nearly as hard and dense as bone to the touch, it is significantly more flexible than bone due to the dense gel-like ground material and fine collagen filaments in its extracellular matrix. The main types of cells found in hyaline cartilage are chondroblasts and chondrocytes. Chondroblasts are located around the perimeter of hyaline cartilage and actively secrete carbohydrates and proteins that harden the gel-like ground substance and proteins that assemble into a network of extremely fine collagen fibers. Chondrocytes (mature cartilage cells) are centrally located within hyaline cartilage. Chondrocytes exist in a tiny space known as a lacuna where they continue to secrete substances that support and maintain healthy cartilage matrix.
The dense matrix of hyaline cartilage provides rigid yet slightly flexible support to structures that may be vulnerable to impacts and must slightly flex to avoid damage or that need to be hard but somewhat flexible to function properly. Places in the human body that fit this description are the large superficial cartilages of the larynx (voice box), the cartilage supports of the trachea and bronchi, and the costal cartilages that connect ribs to the sternum. Hyaline cartilage also forms a layer of padding with a smooth low-friction surface over the ends of bones where they meet in movable joints. This thin layer of cartilage over the ends of bones is technically known as articular cartilage.
