Organization of Hyaline Cartilage

Organization. The consistency of hyaline cartilage results from extensive cross-linking among its components. Link protein attaches the core proteins of proteoglycans to long chains of hyaluronic acid to form proteoglycan aggregates. The GAG side chains of the proteoglycans associate with type iI collagen fibrils. The chondrocytes are embedded in the matrix either singly or in isogeuous groups of 2-8 cells derived from one parent cell. The potential space occupied by each chondrocyte, called a lacuna, is visible only after the cell's death or after shrinkage during tissue processing. The chondrocytes at the core of a tissue mass are usually spheric; those at the periphery are flattened or elliptic. The matrix immediately surrounding the chondrocytes, called the capsular (territorial) matrix, is more intensely basophilic and PAS-positive than the intercapsular (interterritorial) matrix owing to the higher concentration of sulfated GAGs and lower concentration of collagen. Except for articular (joint) cartilage, all hyaline cartilage is surrounded and nourished by perichondrium. Articular cartilage is nourished by the synovial ffuid in the joint cavity.