How does cartilage receive nutrients?
1 Answer
The nutrients diffuse in from other vascularized, or nutrient rich, areas - the perichondrium or synovial fluid.
Explanation:
As cartilage is avascular (doesn't contain blood vessels) it cannot receive nutrients via the bloodstream. Instead, cartilage relies on two different sources.
Synovial Fluid - this is found in joints and supplies nutrients to surrounding chondrocytes (cartilage cells) through diffusion. This is how articular cartilage (the cartilage in bones) receive nutrients, as they don't have a perichondrium.
Perichondrium - This is how hyaline and elastic cartilage get nutrients. The perichondrium is a dense, irregular layer of fibrous tissue that covers the cartilage and is vascularized (has blood vessels) so can provide nutrients.
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