Cartilage
Cells are located in lacunae (holes) in a matrix.
Read the descriptions of the different types of cartilage below
and select the best choice using all the clues you can find.
hyaline cartilage
Lacunae are located in a matrix
that looks fairly consistent throughout.
There are NO visible fibers.
The matrix looks like ground glass.
(Occasionally "chatter marks"
made by the knife that cut the tissue
may vaguely resemble fibers)
fibrocartilage
Lacunae are located in a matrix that has visible fibers.
The fibers tend to be arranged as parallel bundles. (Though in adjacent areas the parallel bundles may be oriented in different directions).
The fibers may look kind of wispy or may be bold and very wavy.
NOTE: Do not confuse with elastic connective tissue which also has wavy fibers but does not have lacunae!!
elastic cartilage
Lacunae are located in a matrix that has visible fibers.
The fibers tend to be arranged in strands that criss-cross each other.
The fibers tend to stain very darkly and may form random looking dark patterns between the lacunae.
