What Is Cartilage?

Imagine if your body did not have any cartilage. As you move, your bones, will just rub off against each other. That will cause inflammation, irritation, within your joints and bones which will cause various conditions such as arthritis. That must be really painful. That is how important your cartilage is.

Your cartilage is a connective tissue which acts like a cushion between your joints and bones. These are tough and rigid tissues but are softer than your bones. Apart from preventing your bones from rubbing off of each other like that of the cartilage on your knees, your cartilages are also responsible for holding some bones together like those cartilages at your ribs. Also, some cartilages, as you grow older, develop into bones. For example, when you are young, the bones on the end of your arms were just cartilage.

Your cartilage is considered as avascular. This means that the cartilages get the nutrients they need through the matrix and not through the blood vessels. These cartilages are made of cells referred to as, chondrocytes, collagen, and elastin.

There are three types of cartilages, the hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage. The hyaline cartilage is made up of collagen and contains no blood vessels or nerves. These cartilages are found in the trachea, ribs, larynx, and bronchi. On the other hand, the elastic cartilage which is also called yellow cartilage contains collagen fibers and fiber networks. It also contains a protein called elastin. This type of cartilage is found in the outer ear, epiglottis, and larynx. Lastly, the fibrocartilage contains varying levels of fibrous tissue and cartilaginous tissue which causes this type of cartilage to be flexible, tough, and elastic, respectively. This type of cartilage is found at your pubic symphysis, intervertebral discs, annulus fibrosis, and meniscus.

These cartilages make a big part of your body as they are responsible to some very important functions to make your body healthy and well. These cartilages, if not supplied well with the materials and nutrients they need to work and function, conditions and diseases might develop. Examples of these conditions and diseases are chondrodystrophies in which cartilages which are not supposed to, are turned into bones; arthritis, which is the inflammation and degradation of your joints and cartilages and others more.

In short, cartilage is an essential part of your body, allowing the bones in your body to turn without wear and tear.

Hi. I'm Rachel Berret, a big advocate seeing an osteopath for your health complaints. I have a great osteopath Melbourne that helps me overcome my own aches and pains such as back pain, neck pains and headaches.

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