Cartilage Growth and Development

What is the primary location of cartilage growth during early embryonic development?

What happens to interstitial growth as the cartilage matures?

Where does cartilage growth typically occur once the cartilage is fully mature?

What is the significance of lacuna in cartilage growth?

What is the role of chondroblasts in cartilage growth?

Why is cartilage growth limited after an injury?

What is the primary reason why cartilage growth is discussed before bone growth?

During which stage of development does cartilage development and growth begin?

What are the two ways in which cartilage can grow?

Describe the first step in interstitial growth of cartilage.

What occurs as chondroblasts begin to synthesize and secrete new cartilage matrix?

What is the outcome of appositional growth in cartilage?

What type of cells are found at the internal edge of the perichondrium and are involved in appositional growth?

What do committed cells differentiate into during appositional growth?

Cartilage Growth

Cartilage development and growth begin during embryologic development.
Cartilage can grow both in length through interstitial growth and in width by appositional growth.

Interstitial Growth

Interstitial growth is an increase in length that occurs within the internal regions of cartilage.
It involves a series of four steps:
- Chondrocytes in lacunae undergo mitotic cell division.
- The resulting chondroblasts synthesize and secrete new cartilage matrix, causing them to be pushed apart.
- Each cell then occupies its own lacuna and becomes a chondrocyte.
- Cartilage continues to grow internally as chondrocytes produce more matrix.

Appositional Growth

Appositional growth is an increase in width along the cartilage's outside edge, or periphery.
It involves a series of three steps:
- Undifferentiated stem cells at the internal edge of the perichondrium divide.
- New stem cells and committed cells differentiate into chondroblasts at the periphery of the old cartilage.
- Chondroblasts produce and secrete new cartilage matrix, pushing them apart to become chondrocytes in their own lacunae.

Cartilage Maturation and Further Growth

During early embryonic development, both interstitial and appositional cartilage growth occur simultaneously.
Interstitial growth declines rapidly as the cartilage matures and becomes semirigid.
Further growth can occur only at the periphery of the tissue, making later growth primarily appositional.
Once the cartilage is fully mature, new cartilage growth typically stops.
Cartilage growth usually only occurs after injury to the cartilage, but is limited due to the lack of blood vessels in the tissue.

Learn about cartilage growth and development, including interstitial and appositional growth. Understand the process of chondrocytes and chondroblasts in cartilage formation.