Articular cartilage is composed of connective tissue which is suited to distributing load and decreasing friction. Cartilage Cartilage is a form of connective tissue composed of chondrocytes and a specialised extracellular matrix. This matrix consists of water, collagen, proteoglycans and other components such as adhesives and lipids. There are several different types of cartilage. Articular hyaline cartilage consists of a glassy and homogenous matrix with lacunae containing chondrocytes.
Articular cartilage contains more collagen than other types of hyaline cartilage.
It lines the bones of synovial joints and functions in load distribution and decreasing friction. The articular cartilage matrix is avascular, aneural and alymphatic relying on the process of diffusion to provide nutrients for the chondrocytes. Other types of cartilage include fibrocartilage, elastic cartilage, and physeal cartilage. Fibrocartilage contains abundant thick bundles of mostly type I collagen which can be seen with the light microscope. This type of cartilage is found at ligament and tendon insertions into bone, in menisci, intervertebral discs, the symphysis pubis, temporomandibular and sternoclavicular joints.