How much do you know about elastic cartilage?

• Elastic cartilage is more opaque and yellow than hyaline cartilage due to abundant elastic fibers.
• It is resilient and has more flexibility and elasticity than other cartilage types.
• The matrix contains a dense network of elastic fibers and a small amount of ground substance.
• Chondrocytes in elastic cartilage are closely packed and often found singly in lacunae.
• Type I collagen fibers are present but masked by ground substance and intermingle with elastic fibers.
• Elastic cartilage is enveloped by a perichondrium and does not have blood vessels or lymphatics in the cartilage interior.
• It undergoes appositional growth from the perichondrium or interstitial growth by chondrocyte mitosis.
• Elastic cartilage does not calcify with age.
• Elastic cartilage is found in the external ear, epiglottis, and larynx.
• Elastic cartilage is important for maintaining shape and function in these structures.

Test your knowledge of elastic cartilage with this informative quiz. Learn about the unique characteristics of this cartilage type, including its abundance of elastic fibers and resilience. Discover the role of chondrocytes and collagen fibers in elastic cartilage, as well as its growth patterns and lack of calcification. Identify where in the body elastic cartilage is found and its importance in maintaining shape and function in key structures like the external ear, epiglottis, and larynx. Get ready