Hyaline cartilage

Hyaline cartilage (aka “Gristle")consists of a slimy mass of a firm consistency, but of considerable elasticity and pearly bluish color. It contains no nerves or blood vessels, and its structure is relatively simple.

Except where it coats the articular ends of bones, it is covered externally by a fibrous membrane, the perichondrium. This membrane contains vessels that provide the cartilage with nutrition.

If a thin slice is examined under the microscope, it will be found to consist of cells of a rounded or bluntly angular form, lying in groups of two or more in a granular or almost homogeneous matrix.

The cells, when arranged in groups of two or more, have generally straight outlines where they are in contact with each other, and in the rest of their circumference are rounded.

They consist of clear translucent protoplasm in which fine interlacing filaments and minute granules are sometimes present; embedded in this are one or two round nuclei, having the usual intranuclear network.

The cells are contained in cavities in the matrix, called cartilage lacunae; around these the matrix is arranged in concentric lines, as if it had been formed in successive portions around the cartilage cells.

This constitutes the so-called capsule of the space.

Each lacuna is generally occupied by a single cell, but during the division of the cells it may contain two, four, or eight cells.

Hyaline cartilage also contains chondrocytes which are cartilage cells that produce the matrix.