How does cartilage differ from bone

Bone vs. Bones are classified into long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid and sutural bones. Hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage and elastic cartilage. Reducing friction at joints, supporting the respiratory tract, acting as shock absorbers between weight-bearing bones, and maintaining the shape and flexibility of fleshy appendages. Structure Bones are made up mostly of osteoblasts progenitor cells , osteocytes mature bone cells , and osteoclasts large cells that breakdown bone tissue for growth and repair.

A bone is highly vascularized. Cartilages comprise chondroblasts, precursor cells , chondrocytes, and a dense matrix of collagen and elastic fibers, in which the mature chondrocytes are embedded. Cartilage is avascular. Location Bones make up the majority of the axial and appendicular skeleton. Cartilage is a much softer, more pliable component that is mostly found in between joints of bones articular cartilage , along the respiratory tract, and in a few other places where flexibility is needed.

Fibrous Covering Periostium, rich in sensory nerve endings. Perichondrium but does not surround articular cartilage. Differences in Physical Structure The structure of bones is a combination of living and dead cells embedded in a matrix. Follow Share Cite Authors.

Share this comparison: If you read this far, you should follow us: "Bone vs Cartilage. Comments: Bone vs Cartilage. Anonymous comments 2 May 7, , am Nice one — Related Comparisons. Contribute to Diffen Edit or create new comparisons in your area of expertise. Log in ». Terms of use Privacy policy. MH Trachea. MH Hyaline Articular Cartilage. MH Epiglottis.

VH Ear. MH Intervertebral Disc. MH b Pig Snout Fetal. MH Cancellous and Compact Bone. MH Spinal Cord. MH Bone. MH Ground Bone. MHS Ground Bone. MH Bone Development. MH b Fetal Pig Snout. MHS Face Embryo. MHS Bone Development. MH b Bone. Elastic or yellow cartilage contains elastic fiber networks and collagen fibers. The principal protein is elastin. Elastic cartilage is histologically similar to hyaline cartilage but contains many yellow elastic fibers lying in a solid matrix.

These fibers form bundles that appear dark under a microscope. They give elastic cartilage great flexibility so it can withstand repeated bending.

Chondrocytes lie between the fibers. Elastic cartilage is found in the epiglottis part of the larynx and the pinnae the external ear flaps of many mammals, including humans.

Chondrification also known as chondrogenesis is the process by which cartilage is formed from condensed mesenchyme tissue. A chondrocyte: A chondrocyte, stained for calcium, showing its nucleus N and mitochondria M.

Mesenchyme tissue differentiates into chondroblasts and begins secreting the molecules that form the extracellular matrix ECM. Mesenchymal stem cells MSCs are undifferentiated, meaning they can give rise to different cell types. Under the appropriate conditions and at sites of cartilage formation, they are referred to as chondrogenic cells. During cartilage formation, undifferentiated MSCs are highly proliferative and form dense aggregates of chondrogenic cells at the center of chondrification.

These condrogenic cells then differentiate to chondroblasts, which will then synthesize the cartilage ECM.

Cartilage: Hyaline cartilage showing chondrocytes and organelles, lacunae and matrix. The extracellular matrix consists of ground substance proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans and associated fibers, such as collagen.

The chondroblasts then trap themselves in lacunae, small spaces that are no longer in contact with the newly created matrix and contain extracellular fluid. The chondroblast is now a chondrocyte, which is usually inactive but can still secrete and degrade the matrix depending on the conditions.

The majority of body cartilage is synthesized from chondroblasts that are largely inactive at later developmental stages compared to earlier years pre-pubescence. The division of cells within cartilage occurs very slowly. Therefore, growth in cartilage is usually not based on an increase in size or mass of the cartilage itself.

Remodeling of cartilage is predominantly affected by changes and rearrangements of the collagen matrix, which responds to tensile and compressive forces experienced by the cartilage. Cartilage growth thus mainly refers to matrix deposition, but can include both growth and remodeling of the ECM. Early in fetal development, the greater part of the skeleton is cartilaginous. This temporary cartilage is gradually replaced by bone endochondral ossification , a process that ends at puberty.

In contrast, the cartilage in the joints remains permanently unossified during life. Once damaged, cartilage has limited repair capabilities because chondrocytes are bound in lacunae and cannot migrate to damaged areas. Also, because cartilage does not have a blood supply, the deposition of new matrix is slow.