MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Fibrocartilage is a transition tissue that should be viewed as a blend between hyaline cartilage and dense fibrous connective tissue. It is a white, densely arranged, opaque, tufted tissue with a mixture of both chondrocytes and fibroblasts.

Detailed explanation-2: -In fibrocartilage, also referred to as white fibrocartilage, the matrix is dominated by a dense regular network of bundles of collagen fibres arranged parallel to each other in several layers (Figure 4.16).

Detailed explanation-3: -Fibrocartilage consists of a mixture of white fibrous tissue and cartilaginous tissue in various proportions. It owes its inflexibility and toughness to the former of these constituents, and its elasticity to the latter. It is the only type of cartilage that contains type I collagen in addition to the normal type II.

Detailed explanation-4: -Fibrocartilage has features of both dense connective tissue (an abundance of thick collagen fibers) and cartilage (a prominent glycosaminoglycan matrix). It is tough and deformable, appropriate for its role in intervertebral disks and insertions of tendons.

Detailed explanation-5: -The fibrous tissue provides toughness and flexibility to the tissue while the cartilage tissue provides elasticity to the tissue. Fibrocartilage is also referred to as white fibrocartilage.