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How does the perichondrium help cartilage grow?
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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).
The perichondrium is a dense, fibrous layer of connective tissue that surrounds most cartilage. It facilitates growth through a process known as appositional growth, which involves the formation of additional matrix and the incorporation of new cells from the inner chondrogenic layer of the perichondrium.1
This inner layer contains cells capable of secreting cartilage matrix, allowing the tissue to expand from its surface. By contributing these new cells and matrix, the perichondrium plays a vital role in the development and enlargement of cartilaginous structures, particularly during the rapid growth phases of an embryo.1