Question

When articular cartilage is damaged, often fibrocartilage forms instead of new hyaline cartilage. Does fibrocartilage have the same properties as hyaline cartilage? Is it likely to provide the same type of surface within a joint as hyaline cartilage? Explain your answers in a minimum of 5 sentences.

Answer 1

Fibrocartilage does not have the same properties as hyaline cartilage and does not provide the same type of surface within a joint.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fibrocartilage does not have the same properties as hyaline cartilage, and it does not provide the same type of surface within a joint.

Hyaline cartilage is smooth, strong, and flexible, and it covers bones where they meet to form movable joints. It acts as a cushion and reduces friction between bones.

In contrast, fibrocartilage is tough and contains thick bundles of collagen fibers, which give it strength. It is found in areas that require more support and can withstand pressure, such as the menisci in the knee joint and the intervertebral discs.

Since fibrocartilage is stiffer and less smooth than hyaline cartilage, it does not provide the same type of surface within a joint.

Therefore, fibrocartilage is not able to fulfill the same functions as hyaline cartilage in joints.