Anatomy and physiology chapter 6 homework
Question:
Where does cartilage show up in the skeleton?
Answer:
Skeletal cartilage is not a type of cartilage; it is a term for all of the cartilage in the body as a whole. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of a mammalian embryo before bone formation starts. Adults still have cartilage in some parts of their bones. Some of the earliest vertebrates, like lampreys and sharks, only have cartilage skeletons. It is made up of a dense network of collagen fibres that are embedded in a firm, gelatinous ground substance that has the consistency of plastic. This structure gives the tissue tensile strength, so it can hold weight but is still more flexible than bone.
