Fibrocartilage

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Fibrocartilage

White fibrocartilage from an intervertebral fibrocartilage.

Symphysis pubis exposed by a coronal section. (Pubic symphysis visible at center left.)
Gray's	subject #68 281
Dorlands/Elsevier	f_06/12362596

White fibrocartilage consists of a mixture of white fibrous tissue and cartilaginous tissue in various proportions; to the former of these constituents it owes its flexibility and toughness, and to the latter its elasticity. It is the only type of cartilage that contains type I collagen in addition to the normal type II.

When examined under the microscope it is found to be made up of fibrous connective tissue arranged in bundles, with cartilage cells between the bundles; the cells to a certain extent resemble tendon cells or dense irregular connective tissue, but may be distinguished from them by being surrounded by a concentrically striated area of cartilage matrix, their lacunae, and by being less flattened.

Fibrocartilage is found in the pubic symphysis, meniscus, and annulus fibrosus. During labor, relaxin loosens the pubic symphesis to aid in delivery, but this can lead to later joint problems.

The white fibrocartilages admit of arrangement into four groups—interarticular, connecting, circumferential, and stratiform.

Cartilage

Fibrocartilage at eMedicine Dictionary
Histology at BU 03201loa

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.