Also called cartilaginous tissue, cartilage is a tissue that supports several of the extremities, characterized by being very elastic and not having any type of blood vessel. It is formed mainly by chondrocytes, a series of dispersed cells that use themselves to maintain themselves in the perichondrium, the outer area of the cartilage. Its main function in the body is to act as a shock absorber when walking, jumping or running, also covering joints in important joints. It is not only present in humans, but also in the embryos of other mammalian species and some fish.
Among the joints they cover are the junction between the ribs and the sternum, the outer ear, the nasal septum, the trachea and the bronchi. Its cells are distinguished by having many small vesicles, which help to initiate the secretion of the matrix; Its Golgi apparatus has considerable dimensions, its rough has a perfect development, as well as lipid substances and some glycogen. They are divided into two large groups, chondroblasts, responsible for matrix production and secretion, and chondrocytes, whose mission is to keep the matrix in good condition, using collagen as its preferred material.
Only three types of cartilage tissue have been observed. The first, called "Hyaline", is the most abundant in the human body, being found in a large part of the respiratory system and the costal arches, it has a white color with some blue reflections, it has a low fiber index. Fibrocartilage, normally, is one that is found in the transitions of connective tissue and hyaline cartilage; the areas in which they can be seen range from the intervertebral discs to the jaw. Meanwhile, the elastic cartilage, rich in elastic fibers, is found in almost the entire outer ear and, unlike the others, has a yellowish color.
