General Histology: Skeletal Tissues

Flashcards covering the properties, structure, cellular components, and types of skeletal tissues, specifically focusing on cartilage and its developmental stages.

Skeletal tissues

Tissues such as cartilage and bone that form the musculoskeletal system and protect internal organs.

Mineral metabolism in skeletal tissues

The process involving high levels of mineral components, specifically calcium and phosphates, appearing at approximately $4-7\%$ in cartilage and $50-60\%$ in bone.

Mesenchymal cells

Cells derived from somites that migrate to develop into skeletal tissues.

Cartilage

A specialized form of connective tissue with a dense, solid intercellular substance that provides resistance to mechanical stress and lubrication for joint surfaces.

Types of cartilage

The three categories classified based on structure, collagen, and elastic fiber content: hyaline, elastic, and fibrous.

Antiangiogenic factor

A substance synthesized by cartilage cells that prevents the growth of blood vessels into the tissue.

Cartilage nutrition

The process by which cartilage receives nutrients via diffusion from capillaries in the perichondrium or synovial fluid, as it lacks its own blood vessels.

Perichondrium

A dense irregular fibrous connective tissue surrounding cartilage consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an inner cellular layer.

Fibrous layer of perichondrium

The outer layer containing Type I collagen fibers and the blood vessels that nourish the cartilage.

Cellular layer of perichondrium

The layer adjacent to the cartilage containing connective tissue cells and chondroblasts.

Chondroblasts

Small, flattened cambial cells with basophilic cytoplasm and well-developed organelles that synthesize the components of the cartilage matrix.

Matrix vesicles

Secretory vesicles containing components of the intercellular substance secreted by chondroblasts.

Chondrocytes

Cartilage cells located in specialized cavities within the intercellular substance called lacunae.

Lacunae

Specialized spaces or cavities within the cartilage matrix where chondrocytes are situated.

Young chondrocytes

Oval-shaped cells located directly under the perichondrium that possess the ability to divide.

Mature chondrocytes

Cells located in deep cartilage layers that do not divide but actively synthesize matrix components.

Isogenous groups

Clusters of $2-6$ mature chondrocytes located in a single lacuna, formed from the proliferation of a single young chondrocyte.