Page 248 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

FIGURE 7.7 ■ Elastic cartilage: epiglottis. Stain: silver stain. ×80.

FIGURE 7.8 | Fibrocartilage: Intervertebral Disk

The fibrous cartilage matrix (5) is filled with dense collagen fibers (2, 6), which
frequently exhibit parallel arrangement, as seen in tendons. Small chondrocytes

(1, 4) in lacunae (3) are usually distributed in rows (4) within the fibrous
cartilage matrix (5), rather than at random or in isogenous groups, as in hyaline
or elastic cartilage. All chondrocytes and lacunae (1, 3, 4) are of similar size;
there is no gradation from larger central chondrocytes to smaller and flatter

peripheral cells.

A perichondrium is absent because fibrous cartilage usually forms a
transitional area between hyaline cartilage and tendon or ligament.

The proportion of collagen fibers (2, 6) to cartilage matrix (5), the number of
chondrocytes, and their arrangement in the matrix (5) vary. Collagen fibers (2, 6)

may be so dense that the matrix (5) is invisible. In such case, chondrocytes and
lacunae will appear flattened. Collagen fibers within a bundle are normally
parallel, but collagen bundles may course in different directions.

FIGURE 7.8 ■ Fibrocartilage: intervertebral disk. Stain: hematoxylin and eosin.
High magnification.

FIGURE 7.9 | Fibrocartilage: Intervertebral Disk

This high-power photomicrograph from a section of an intervertebral disk
illustrates the dense and compact composition of the fibrocartilage. Numerous
chondrocytes in lacunae (1) are visible with dark nuclei (3). Some

chondrocytes (1) are dispersed individually in the matrix or lined up in rows (4,

247