Cartilage Growth

Discussion

• growth involves either or both of two processes;

Appositional Growth

• new cartilage is formed at cartilage surface by cells derived from chondroblasts of perichondrium;
• w/ maturation, majority of cartilage growth is primarily appositional;

Interstitial Growth

• increase in internal mass of cartilage by activity of chondrocytes that multiply within their lacunae;

• in mature cartilage, cellular turnover rate is exceedingly low;
• protein polysaccharide undergoes constant synthesis and degraded

• Metatropic dwarfism. Uncoupling of endochondral and perichondral growth.
• Characterization of aggregating proteoglycans from the proliferative, maturing, hypertrophic, and calcifying zones of the cartilaginous physis.