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How does elastic cartilage differ from hyaline cartilage?
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connective tissue
Randomly oriented collagenous fibers of varying size in a thin spread of loose areolar connective tissue (magnified about 370 Γ).
Elastic cartilage and hyaline cartilage differ primarily in their composition, appearance, and flexibility:
- Composition: Hyaline cartilage contains a matrix with randomly oriented collagen fibrils and relatively little elastin. In contrast, elastic cartilage contains an abundance of elastic fibers in addition to collagen, which grants it greater pliability.12
- Appearance: Hyaline cartilage is characterized by a pearl-gray or blue-white, semitranslucent appearance. Elastic cartilage has a distinct pale yellow appearance due to its high concentration of elastic fibers.123
- Location: Hyaline cartilage is the most widely distributed form, found on joint surfaces, in the nose, larynx, trachea, and as the primary component of the fetal skeleton. Elastic cartilage is more specialized, found principally in the external ear, the auditory tube, and the epiglottis.123
Both types are forms of connective tissue containing chondrocytes embedded in a firm, gel-like matrix.12