cartilage and bone histology. Microscopic anatomy

Musculoskeletal
system
By
Dr. Shereen Hamed
Lecturer of Histology & Cell Biology
Faculty of Medicine. Mansoura
University

Musculoskeletal
system
By
Dr. Shereen Hamed
Lecturer of Histology & Cell Biology
Faculty of Medicine. Mansoura University
Revision in 33minutes

The Cartilage
• Def: special type of C.T.
Firm consistency.
Poor blood supply
• Types:
1.Hyaline cartilage.
2.Yellow Elastic fibro-cartilage.
3.White fibro-cartilage.

1- Hyaline Cartilage
 Majority of the fetal skeleton.
 Articular surface of bones.
 Costal cartilage
 cartilage of respiratory passages
 Laryngeal cartilages “ Thyroid and
cricoid"
Sites:

• Structure:
1. Perichondrium.
2. Cartilage cells =
chondrocytes.
3. Cartilage matrix.
Hyaline Cartilage

 Formed of:
(a) Outer fibrous layer:
(b) Inner chondrogenic layer:
Vascular C T membrane
surrounds the cartilage except
at the articular surface of joints

Vascular C.T rich in collagen and
blood vessels.
Function:
Blood supply
Site for attachment of muscles

Formed of 1 or 2 rows of
chondroblasts (flat cells with flat
nuclei)
Function:
 Responsible for growth of
cartilage.

A- Young Chondrocytes:
Origin: They arise from the inner chondrogenic layer.
LM: Flat cells with flat nuclei and pale basophilic
cytoplasm.
Number: Present singly in their lacunae.
Site: Found at the periphery of the cartilage and
parallel to the perichondrium.

LM: Oval or rounded cells with rounded nucleus.
They have granular, basophilic cytoplasm rich in glycogen, fat and
Alkaline phosphatase enzyme.
Number: They can divide, so present in lacunae singly or in
groups (2, 4, 8) forming "Cell nest".
Site: Found deep in the cartilage.
B- Mature “old” Chondrocytes

EM:
o rER
o Ribosomes
o Mitochondria
o well developed Golgi
o The surface show short cytoplasm processes

Function:
 They can divide, so they are responsible for growth of cartilage
in length (Interstitial growth) .
• They synthesize and secrete the components of the cartilage
matrix.

 Firm or rubbery in consistency
 Avascular but it allows diffusion of oxygen and
nutrients from capillaries of perichondrium to
reach the chondrocytes
 Basophilic due to presence of high content of
sulphated GAGs (chondroitin sulphate).
 Homogenous.

H & E: Basophilic, basophilia is
markedly increased around lacunae
and cell nests “Territorial matrix”
PAS: Strong +ve Magenta
Metachromatic stain ”Tolidine
blue”: Purple.

(2) Yellow elastic fibro-
cartilage
Sites:
 Ear Auricle .
 External auditory
meatus.
 Eustachian tube.
 Epiglottis.

Yellow elastic fibro- cartilage
 Identical to hyaline cartilage except :
The matrix contains abundant elastic fibers

Chondrocytes are present singly or in
groups inside their lacunae.
Stain : Verhoff’s Stain : Black

(3) White fibro-
cartilage
Sites:
 Interverterbal discs.
 Semilunar cartilage of
knee joints.
 Symphysis pubis.
 Terminal parts of
tendons.

Structure: Transition between
hyaline cartilage and dense C.T.
No perichondrium.
Bundles of collagen type I rich in
blood vessels in between cartilage
cells.
Chondrocytes are arranged in rows
or columns
Matrix acidophilic due to presence
coarse type I collagen fibers.
White fibro-cartilage
Rows of Chondrocytes

Intervertebral disc:
Formed of soft jelly-like central material (nucleus pulposus)
surrounded by white fibrocartilage (annulus fibrosus).

With advanced age, the white fibrocartilage of intervertebral disc
becomes thin, causes protrusion of nucleus pulposus causing pressure
on spinal nerves which leads to sever pain.
 This condition is known as Slipped (herniated or prolapsed
disc)

Interstitial growth
ositional growth
pp
A
By chondrocytes
lasts
b
chondro
By
growth from within
growth from outside
The chondrocytes divide
within their lacunae and
synthesize the cartilage
matrix
chondroblasts are activated
to chondrocytes which
synthesize collagen fibrils
and ground substance
causes growth in length
causes growth in width

1) Periosteum.
2) Bone cells.
3) Bone matrix.
4) Endosteum.

General characters:
- It is hard or solid in
consistency.
- It is rich in blood
supply.

osteoclast
osteocyte
osteoblast
Osteogenic
monocytes in blood
mature osteoblasts
osteogenic cells
UMC
origin
Howships Lacuna
-Endosteum.
-Bone marrow cavities
- Medullary cavity
In bone lacuna
-Inner periosteum
-Endosteum.
-Bone marrow cavities
sites

osteoclast
osteocyte
osteoblast
Osteogenic
Size: Large: 20-30 µm.
Shape: Irregular
Nucleus: Multinucleated
cell(4-50)
Cytoplasm: Foamy
acidophilic.
Border: striated or brush
border facing the bone
surface.
 Oval, branched
cells.
 Nucleus: oval,
central.
 Cytoplasm:
slightly basophilic &
rich in alkaline
phosphatase enzyme
Small, oval
branched cells with
few cytoplasmic
processes.
Nucleus: oval,
eccentric, open
face.
Cytoplasm: deep
basophilic with
negative Golgi
image close to the
nucleus.
Flat cells, flat
nucleus &
basophilic
cytoplasm
L M

osteoclast
osteocyte
osteoblast
Osteogenic
-Numerous finger-like
processes forming a
ruffled border.
-Lysosomal vesicles.
-Mitochondria.
 Ribosomes& rER.
 Golgi apparatus.
 Mitochondria.
Ribosomes &
r.E.R.
E M

osteoclast
osteocyte
osteoblast
Osteogenic
1- Bone resorption
during ossification
causing remodeling of
bone
2- They remove bone
debris during
ossification and after
healing of bone
fracture.
1. Formation of bone
matrix and vesicles
rich in enzymes to
preserve the integrity
of the bone matrix
and maintaining its
inorganic
components.
1. Bone formation
(matrix secretion).
2. Bone calcification
a) Alk phosphatase enz
→ facilitates deposition
of calcium.
b) Pyrophosphatase
enz →inhibit
pyrophosphate
c) Matrix vesicles: buds
from cell membrane,
store Ca.
3. Change into
osteocytes.
They are
capable to
divide and give
osteoblasts
“bone forming
cells” during:
1- Growth of
bone.
2- Healing of
fracture bone.
function

Bone matrix
organic
bone collagen “Type I”.
Sulphated GAGs
Glycoproteins (osteonectin):
anchor cells with bone
matrix.
inorganic
calcium and
phosphorus salts.

Outer fibrous layer:
Rich in :
Collagenous fibers.
Fibroblasts.
Blood vessels.
Inner osteogenic layer:
Formed of: osteogenic spindle-
shaped cells

Function of periosteum :
1- Provide attachment for muscles, ligaments and tendons.
2- Provide bone with blood supply and nourishment.
3- Inner osteogenic layer is important for formation of bone
during its growth and after its fracture.

II) Endosteum
◦ vascular C.T. membrane
1.inner surface of the bone,
2.bone marrow cavities
3.Haversian canals.
◦ Rich in:
•osteogenic cells,
•osteoblasts,
•osteoclasts
•blood vessels.

Function of endosteum :
1. Supplies bone with blood supply &
nourishment.
2. Its osteogenic cells & osteoblasts &
osteoclasts are concerned with bone
formation and resorption during growth &
healing after fracture.

Types of Bone
Compact
Bone
Cancellous
bone

Solid like ivory with no apparent holes
i.e. compact.
Sites:
(1) Shaft of long bones.
(2) Outer & inner tables of flat bones of
the skull.
(3) Outer covering of the vertebrae &
ribs.

Structure:
1. Periosteum.
2. Endosteum.
3. Bone matrix.
4. Bone cells.

- The matrix is formed
of lamellae of calcified
osteoid tissue in which
osteocytes are
embedded.
- Organic & inorganic
components.

 Bone lamellae :
1- Outer “external”
circumferential lamellae
2- Inner “Internal” circumferential
Lamellae
3- Concentric Lamellae (It is
formed of 4-20 cylinders of
concentric bone lamellae
arranged around Haversian
canal) .
4- Interstitial “Inter-Haversian”
Lamellae

- It is the structural unit of the
bone.
- It is formed of:
1- Haversian Canal.
2- Concentric bone lamellae.
3- Osteocytes.

1- Haversian Canal:
Runs parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the
bone.
Contains loose C.T., rich in
blood Vessels.
Lined by Osteogenic cells.

2- Concenteric bone
lamellae: 4-20 cylinders of
concentric bone lamellae
arranged around Haversian canal.
3- Osteocytes:
They are found inside
their lacunae in between
the bone lamellae

Transverse or oblique canals.
Connect Haversian canals
together and with periosteal
or endosteal blood vessels.
Lined with osteogenic cells
Contain blood vessels.

 Calcified collagenous fibers.
 Arise from the deep surface of
the periosteum and embedded
like nails into the bone.

 Act as an anchor fixing the
periosteum to the bone
especially at the sites of
attachment of tendons,
ligaments and muscles.

It looks like – sponge with
Many holes, so called
spongy bone
Sites:
1- Epiphysis of long bones.
2- Central part of flat bones
of the skull.
3-Bodies of vertebrae &
sternum.
4- Young embryonic bone.

Irregular branching and
anastomosing trabeculae
The bone trabeculae are
separated by bone marrow
spaces of irregular shape and
size.
The bone marrow spaces are filled
with active red bone marrow.

It is the process of bone formation, which leads to
its growth
Types :
I- Intramembranous ossification: occurs in
mesenchymal membranes.
II- Intracartilagenous ossification: occurs in cartilage
model.

Definition:
It is the method by which a membrane
of mesenchymal connective tissue is
transformed into spongy bone.
Sites:
Flat bones of the skull, face and
clavicle

Stages:
1-UMCs condense forming a
primary
ossification center.
2-UMCs change into
osteoblasts, which start
bone formation.

3- Osteoblasts synthesize
bone matrix forming
branched trabeculae
which
join together, forming
spongy bone.

4-Blood vessels invade the spaces
between the trabeculae.
5-UMCs in the spaces between
trabeculae give rise to bone
marrow, while the mesenchymal
tissue at the surface gives rise to
the periosteum.

 Definition:
It is a type of
ossification by
which cartilaginous
model is replaced
by bone.

Sites:
Epiphyseal plates of the
cartilage.
INTRACARTILAGENOUS OSSIFICATION

 Stages:
1. Resting cartilage.
2. Proliferation.
3. Maturation & Hypertrophy.
4. Calcification.
5. Invasion.
6. Spongy bone formation.
7. Remodeling & compact
bone formation.

1. Resting cartilage:
Small, resting chondrocytes
embedded in their matrix.
2. Proliferation:
- Resting chondrocytes divide giving
large number.
- Arranged in rows parallel to the
longitudinal axis of bone.
Maturation & Hypertrophy:
Chondrocytes grow in size.
The lacunae widen & become
separated by thin bars of matrix.

4. Stage of Calcification.:
 The chondrocytes secrete Alk.
Phosphatase .
 The matrix becomes impermeable
→ cut off nutrients → death of the
cells.
 The lacunae appear empty spaces
separated by thin bars of calcified
matrix.
 Osteogenic cells change into
osteoblasts

5. Stage of Invasion:
 Some monocytes change into
osteoclasts → hole → vasular bud
fills the empty spaces.
 The empty spaces are invaded by
vascular mesenchymal tissue.
6. Spongy bone formation:
 Some osteogenic cells →
osteoblas ts→ form trabeculae of
spongy bone.

7. Redmodeling & compact bone
formation:
 Osteoclasts destruct irregular
bars of bone.
 Osteoblasts arrange in
concenteric manner around bl.v.
→concenteric bone lamellae
 The process is repeated several
times → Hversian systems.

cartilage and bone histology. Microscopic anatomy

cartilage and bone histology. Microscopic anatomy

More Related Content

Similar to cartilage and bone histology. Microscopic anatomy

More from AbdulRashidAdams

Recently uploaded

cartilage and bone histology. Microscopic anatomy