Cartilag

e
Summary
The feature of cartilage
The general structure of cartilage
The types of cartilage
The structure of hyaline cartilage
Histophysiology of cartilage
Features of Cartilage

very firm extracellular matrix

low metabolic activity in Chondrocytes
Avascular; the vasculature in adjacent
perichondrium
No lymphatic vessels
No innervation
synovial fluid in absence of perichondrium
 Cartilage
An organ or a structure of an organ

Composition:

1. Cartilage tissue
Specialized C.T.

2. Perichondrium
Dense C.T.
Cartilage tissue
Composition:
Cell: chondrocyte, chondrioblast cells
Fiber: type II collagen fibril,
collagen fiber (type I and type III collagen)
elastic fibers
Ground substance: hyaluronic acid
glycosaminoglycans
proteoglycans
proteins core.
 Schematic representation of molecular organization in cartilage matrix. Link
proteins noncovalently bind the core protein of proteoglycans to the linear
hyaluronic acid molecules. The chondroitin sulfate,side chains of the
proteoglycan, electrostatically bind to the collagen fibrils, forming a cross-linked
matrix. The oval outlines the area shown larger in the lower part of the figure.
General structure of
cartilage
Perichondrium( 软骨膜 )
Sheath of dense irregular C.T
and vasculature Surrounding
cartilage

Articular cartilage( 关节软骨 )

lacks perichondrium, nutrients
come from synovial fluid( 滑
液)
Cartilage tissue
Chondrocyte and extracellular matrix
Lacunae in which Chondrocytes are
located
Isogenous group
chodrocytes come from one cell

Cartilage capsule
The matrix that surround the
chondrocyte contains more
chondrotin sulfate and is strong
basophilic
Function of cartilage
Supports soft tissues (nose, ear, trachea)
Shock absorption and friction reduction in
joints
Development and growth of long bones
Types of Cartilage

Hyaline: Most common, much type II collagen

Elastic: elastic fibers, type 2 collagen
Fibrocartilage: type I collagen;
high stress and weight bearing
 Types of Cartilage tissue

Hyaline cartil. Elastic cartil. Fibrous cartil.

 Hyaline Cartilage

Blue-white in color
In embryo it serves as skeleton until
replacement by bone, template
Epiphyseal plate in long bone growth
Joint surfaces, nose, larynx, trachea, bronchi,
ends of ribs adjacent to sternum
 Hyaline Cartilage
Chondrocytes and lacunae :
LM: flat, spherical or ovoid ; basophilic or
acidophilic;
EM: well-developed rER, Golgi complex;
Function: synthesize extracellular matrix
 Matrix of hyaline cartilage
Matrix is strongly basophilic in center and

weekly in periphery of cartilage. Basophilic

feature mainly depends on the amount of
proteoglycans.
Hyaline Cartilage Matrix

Amorphous ground substance with

proteoglycans such as chondroitin sulfate and
keratin sulfate
Territorial matrix adjacent to chondrocytes has
much glycosaminoglycan and stains darker
than interterritorial matrix, it is also termed as
capsule
Fiber of hyaline cartilage
type II collagenous fibrils, invisible under the light
microscope. Thinner; the same refractive index as
ground substance.
 The Growth of Cartilage

Histogenesis of hyaline cartilage. A: The mesenchyme is the

precursor tissue of all types of cartilage. B: Mitotic proliferation of
mesenchymal cells gives rise to a highly cellular tissue. C:
Chondroblasts are separated from one another by the formation of
a great amount of matrix. D: Multiplication of cartilage cells gives
rise to isogenous groups, each surrounded by a condensation of
territorial (capsular) matrix.
Appositional growth:
The chondrocytes in the periphery of cartilage come from
chondrioblast cells near perichodrium
Interstitial growth:
The proliferation of chondrocytes in the center of cartilage result
from mitotic division of chondrocytes and form isogenous group
 Histophysilogy of cartilage

Because cartilage is devoid of blood capillaries,

chondrocytes respire under low oxygen tension. Hyaline
cartilage cells metabolize glucose mainly by anaerobic
glycolysis to produce lactic acid as the end product.
Nutrients from the blood cross the perichondrium to reach
more deeply placed cartilage cells. Mechanisms include
diffusion and transport of water and solute promoted by
the pumping action of intermittent cartilage compression
and decompression. Because of this, the maximum width
of the cartilage is limited.
The nutrients diffuse through the solvation water of the
matrix. There is almost no free water in cartilage matrix.
 Regulation of chondrocyte
Chondrocyte function depends on a proper hormonal
balance. The synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans is
accelerated by growth hormone, thyroxine, and
testosterone. It is retarded by cortisone, hydrocortisone,
and estradiol.
Cartilage growth depends mainly upon the hypophyseal
growth hormone, somatotropin. This hormone does not act
directly on cartilage cells but promotes the synthesis of
somatomedin C in the liver. Somatomedin C acts directly
on cartilage cells, promoting their growth.
Degenerative Changes of Hyaline Cartilage

Hyaline cartilage is subject to the degenerative

processes that increase with age. The most common is
calcification of the matrix; this is preceded by an
increase in the size and volume of the cells, followed
by their death. Although calcification is a regressive
alteration, it occurs normally in certain cartilages,
providing a model for bone development.
Asbestiform degeneration, frequent in aged cartilage,
is due to the formation of localized aggregates of
thick, abnormal collagen fibrils in this tissue.
Elastic cartilage fibrocartilage
Chapter Blood

1 、 Composition
2 、 Blood Cells
1 、 the composition of blood.
5L blood / an adult
blood coagulate blood clot + serum
anticoagulants
kept from coagulating
Plasma
natural deposition:
blood cells + plasma
WBC
The ratio of cell volume RBC
is about 45%
Blood plasma ：
A pale yellow liquid contain proteins, lipids,
glucose, hormone,…… protein fibrinogen etc.
plasma
removing the protein fibrinogen in plasma
serum

Formed elements of blood

Blood cell and platelet
Blood cell and protein fibrin
2. Blood Cells

RBC male 4.0 ～ 5.5×1012 /L

female 3.5 ～ 5.0×1012 /L
WBC 4 ～ 10×109/L
Neutrophils 50-70%
granulocytes eosinophils 0.5-3%
basophils 0-1%

lymphocytes 20-30%
agranulocytes
monocytes 3-8%

platelet 100 ～ 400×109/L

blood smear:
stained with Wright or Giemsa

各
种
血
细
胞
 2.1 Erythrocyte or RBC.
Form ： φ7 ～ 8μm ， biconcave discs;
no nucleus and cellular organs in cell ;
but to be full of hemoglobin, Hb.

Hb ： male 120 ～ 150g / L

female 105 ～ 135g /L
anaemia: RBC ＜ 3.0 ×1012 /L
- Hb ＜ 100 g /L
Function ： carried the oxygen
oxyhemoglobin reduced hemoglobin
(in lung) ( in tissue)
Features ：
flexible: change of cell shape, permitting to
squeeze through small diameter-capillaries.

antigen of blood group: it is on the membrane , to

decide the blood group of a person (ABO etc).
Match the blood group before blood
transfusion.
haemolysis: The osmotic pressure of RBC is as same
as the plasma. RBC in a hypotonic solution will be
swelling, the Hb will seep out of cells-- haemolysis.
So, the osmotic pressure of liquid must
be equal to the plasma.
 Reticulocyte:

The life of RBC 120 days;

The new RBC
( reticulocytes ) produced
by bone marrow, contain
residual ribosomes in
cytoplasm, blue granules
stained basophilic, and
disappeared latterly.
Normal numbers:
0.5-1.5% of
total blood erythrocytes
 2.2 Leukocytes or WBC

The spherical blood cells contain nucleus.

Capable of amoeboid movement.
Divided into two groups depended on the specific
granules in the cytoplasm.
Specific granules:
- -------- neutrophil, acidophil, basophil .
Non-specific granules:

monocyte, lymphocyte
azurophilic( 嗜天青） --- purple.
1 2 3

4 5 6
The characteristic of granulocytes:

have specific granules, divided into three kinds

10 ～ 12μm in diameter,
irregular nuclei, lobes of nuclei interlinked
by a fine thread of chromatin.
cytoplasm is weak acidophilic
The characteristic of agranulocytes:
no specific granules, but azurophilic granules
regular nuclei
basophilic cytoplasm
2.2.1 Neutrophils ： 50 ～ 70%
LM ： nucleus ： 2 ～ 5 lobes, or sausage-like
　　 granules: tiny ， purplish red or pink
azurophilic neutrophilic

EM： 　 20% 80%

- larger smaller
- lysosomes ALP., lysozymes
Function: against bacterial infection.
The number of neutrophils will increase as the
bacterial infection.
Neutrophil in blood
2.2.2 Eosinophils ： 0.5 ～ 3%

LM ： nucleus ： two lobes

　　 granules: coarse, pink-staining
granules
EM: The granules are lysosomes, an elongated
- crystalloid core can be seen inside.
Function ： mitigating allergic reaction.
- release histaminase decompoese
histamin, -
Eosinophil in blood
2.2.3 Basophils ： 0 ～ 1%
LM ： nucleus ： irregular or s - shaped,
granules: large or small purple-stained ，
distributed on the nucleus and -
obscured the nucleus.

EM： The granules have the same form and

contain the same components as that –

Function ：cell.
of mast participating in allergy reaction
Basophil in blood
2.2.4 Monocyte ： 3 ～ 8%
Form ： φ12 ～ 17μm
nucleus ： horseshoe or kidney-shaped,
stain pale blue or purple
cytoplasm: bluish-grey color
azurophilic granules

EM： The granules are lysosomes

Function ： The monocytes in blood move
to C.T. , differentiating into the
macrophages.
Monocyte in blood
2.2.5 Lymphocytes ： 20 ～ 30%

Small lymphocytes : in majority, φ6 ～ 8μm

medium-sized lymphocytes : A few ,
large lymphocytes: φ12 ～
17 μm
nucleus ： a spherical nucleus, stained deep-
blue color, the chromatin appears as caorse
clumps.
cytoplasm: a small light-blue color cytoplasm.
a few purple azurophilic granules
EM： The granules are lysosomes,
-
many free ribosomes in the cytoplasm.
Lymphocyte in blood
Function ： immunologicl defence

T-lymphocytes: cellular immunity

B-lymphocytes: humoral immunity
NK- lymphocytes: killing the
cells which have
changed their normal characteristic.

e.g. tumorous cells.

 2.3 Blood platelets (thrombocytes):

Form ： φ2-5μm, the cell fragments in clumps,

budding from the megakaryocytes of bone marrow.

they are convex disc-like, no nucleus,

There are two regions:
granular zone: many granules in the center

peripheral zone: a pale homogeneous plasma

EM： many microtubules , microfilaments, and
granules contained thromboplastin, serotonin.
Function ： stopping
Blood platelets (thrombocytes) are nonnucleated,
disk-like cell fragments,2-4μm in diameter.
Platelets originate from the fragmentation of giant
polyploid megakaryocytes residing in the bone
marrow. They promote blood clotting and help
repair gaps in the walls of blood vessels,
preventing loss of blood. Normal platelet counts
range from 200,000 to 400,000 per microliter of
blood. Once they enter the bloodstream, platelets
have a life span of about 10 days.
Platelet
 Platelet formation
megakaryoblast promegakaryocyte

megakaryocyte platelets
Thanks!!!!