Which characteristic distinguishes hyaline cartilage from elastic cartilage and fibrocartilage?

• A. It contains abundant elastic fibers, making it highly flexible.
• B. It is rich in thick bundles of collagen fibers, providing great tensile strength.
• C. It is the only type of cartilage that is vascularized.
• D. It has a glassy, translucent matrix with few visible fibers.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the three main types of cartilage: hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage. Each type has distinct structural and functional characteristics.
2. Hyaline cartilage is characterized by its glassy, translucent matrix. This matrix contains fine collagen fibers that are not easily visible under a microscope, giving it a smooth appearance.
3. Elastic cartilage contains abundant elastic fibers, which make it highly flexible. These fibers are visible under a microscope and are found in structures like the external ear and epiglottis.
4. Fibrocartilage is rich in thick bundles of collagen fibers, providing great tensile strength. It is found in areas like intervertebral discs and the pubic symphysis, where durability and resistance to compression are needed.
5. Note that hyaline cartilage is unique because of its glassy, translucent matrix with few visible fibers, distinguishing it from the other types of cartilage.