Question

What type of cartilaginous tissue is found in the intervertebral disc?
A) Costal cartilage
B) Hyaline cartilage
C) White fibrous cartilage
D) Yellow elastic cartilage

Answer 1

Hint:Cartilage is a kind of smooth elastic tissue that covers and in turn protects the end of long bones at joints and nerves. Cartilages are most commonly found in the rib cage, nose, ear, bronchial tubes, intervertebral disc, etc.

Complete answer:
Cartilages are composed of a specialized kind of cell which is called chondrocytes that consists of a matrix which is made up of glycosaminoglycans, collagen fibres, proteoglycan and elastin. Cartilages are devoid of blood vessels and nerves, nutrition reaches chondrocytes by means of diffusion.

Cartilages are classified into three main types- elastic cartilage, hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage.

Costal cartilage is a type of hyaline cartilage that is found at the anterior ends of the ribs, they help to push the rib forward and also leads to elasticity of the walls of the thorax. Hyaline cartilage is a translucent cartilage being pearl grey in color that is found widely in the ribs, nose, trachea and larynx.

White fibrous cartilage and yellow fibrous cartilage are both constituents of fibrocartilage, they are inflexible, tough and elastic and are the only cartilage containing Type I cartilage in addition to the normal Type II.

The intervertebral disc is composed mostly of white fibrous cartilage which is characterized by having little chondrocyte and matrix but dense collagen.

So the correct answer is option (C) i.e, White fibrous cartilage.

Note: The cartilages serve many important roles by means of their properties. Cartilages have mechanical properties by the help of which they respond to compression, shear and tensile loading in knees and hips. They also have frictional properties that help in bio-lubrication and protection.