Trabecular cartilage
Trabecular Cartilage is a type of cartilage that is found in certain vertebrates, including some fish and amphibians. It is characterized by its spongy, lattice-like structure, which is formed by a network of fine trabeculae or "little beams".
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term "trabecular" is derived from the Latin word "trabecula", which means "little beam". This refers to the beam-like structures that form the lattice network in this type of cartilage.
Structure and Function[edit | edit source]
Trabecular cartilage is composed of a network of fine trabeculae that form a spongy, lattice-like structure. This structure provides a high degree of flexibility and resilience, making it well-suited to areas of the body that require both strength and flexibility, such as the gill arches of fish and the larynx and trachea of amphibians.
Unlike other types of cartilage, such as hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage, trabecular cartilage does not contain chondrocytes within lacunae. Instead, the cells are dispersed throughout the extracellular matrix, which is composed of collagen and proteoglycans.
Distribution[edit | edit source]
Trabecular cartilage is found in certain vertebrates, including some species of fish and amphibians. In fish, it is found in the gill arches, where it provides support and flexibility. In amphibians, it is found in the larynx and trachea, where it helps to maintain the shape of these structures while allowing for movement and flexibility.
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
- Cartilage: A flexible connective tissue found in many areas of the body.
- Trabeculae: The small, beam-like structures that form the lattice network in trabecular cartilage.
- Chondrocytes: The cells that produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix in most types of cartilage.
- Collagen: A protein that provides strength and structure to various tissues in the body, including cartilage.
- Proteoglycans: Large molecules that are part of the extracellular matrix in cartilage, where they bind water and help to provide resilience.
| Trabecular cartilage Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
