NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -It consists of a bluish-white, shiny ground elastic material, whose matrix contains chondtoitin sulphate, with many fine collagen fibrils and chrondrocytes. The chondrocytes are arranged in small groups within cell nests and the matrix is solid and smooth.

Detailed explanation-2: -The cartilage matrix is composed of collagens (primarily type II collagen with minor collagen types IX and XI) and proteoglycans. Although a number of proteinases have been found in the arthritic joints (Nagase and Woessner, 1993), matrixins are considered to be key enzymes for the degradation of cartilage matrix.

Detailed explanation-3: -The ‘ground substance’ of extracellular matrix is an amorphous gelatinous material. It is transparent, colourless, and fills the spaces between fibres and cells. It actually consists of large molecules called glycosoaminoglycans (GAGs) which link together to form even larger molecules called proteoglycans.

Detailed explanation-4: -Articular cartilage is hyaline cartilage and is 2 to 4 mm thick. Unlike most tissues, articular cartilage does not have blood vessels, nerves, or lymphatics. It is composed of a dense extracellular matrix (ECM) with a sparse distribution of highly specialized cells called chondrocytes.

Detailed explanation-5: -The matrix of the cartilage is secreted by the immature type of cells called chondroblasts. When this matrix surrounds the chondroblasts, the cells become chondrocytes. So, the correct answer is ‘Chondroblasts’.