- Chondrocyte
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Chondrocyte Chondrocytes of hyaline cartilage showing organelles, lacunae and matrix. Latin chondrocytus Code TH H2.00.03.5.00003 Chondrocytes (from Greek chondros cartilage + kytos cell) are the only cells found in cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans. Although chondroblast is still commonly used to describe an immature chondrocyte, use of the term is discouraged, for it is technically inaccurate since the progenitor of chondrocytes (which are mesenchymal stem cells) can also differentiate into osteoblasts. The organization of chondrocytes within cartilage differs depending upon the type of cartilage and where in the tissue they are found.
Contents
Differentiation
From least- to terminally-differentiated, the chondrocytic lineage is:
- Colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F)
- Mesenchymal stem cell / marrow stromal cell (MSC)
- Chondrocyte
- Hypertrophic chondrocyte
When referring to bone or cartilage, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are commonly known as osteochondrogenic (or osteogenic, chondrogenic, osteoprogenitor, etc.) cells since a single MSC has shown the ability to differentiate into chondrocytes or osteoblasts, depending on the medium. In vivo, differentiation of an MSC in a vascularized area (such as bone) yields an osteoblast, whereas differentiation of an MSC in a non-vascularized area (such as cartilage) yields a chondrocyte. Chondrocytes undergo terminal differentiation when they become hypertrophic during endochondral ossification. This last stage is characterized by major phenotypic changes in the cell.
Gallery
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Chondrocytes in hyaline cartilage
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Chondrocyte, stained for calcium, showing nucleus (N) and mitochondria (M)
See also
References
- Dominici M, Hofmann T, Horwitz E (2001). "Bone marrow mesenchymal cells: biological properties and clinical applications". J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 15 (1): 28–37. PMID 11388742.
- Bianco P, Riminucci M, Gronthos S, Robey P (2001). "Bone marrow stromal stem cells: nature, biology, and potential applications". Stem Cells 19 (3): 180–92. doi:10.1634/stemcells.19-3-180. PMID 11359943.
- Stem cell information
External links
Musculoskeletal system · connective tissue: bone and cartilage (TA A02.0, TH H3.01, GA 2.86–95) Cartilage perichondrium · fibrocartilage callus · metaphysis
cells (chondroblast · chondrocyte)
types (hyaline · elastic · fibrous)Bone CycleTypesRegionsStructureosteon / Haversian system · Haversian canals · Volkmann's canals · connective tissue (endosteum · periosteum) · Sharpey's fibres · enthesis · lacunae · canaliculi · trabeculae · medullary cavity · bone marrowShapesHuman cell types / list derived primarily from mesoderm Paraxial bone: Osteoblast → Osteocyte
cartilage: Chondroblast → Chondrocytemuscle: Myoblast → Myocyte · Myosatellite cell · Tendon cell · Cardiac muscle cell
adipose: Lipoblast → AdipocyteDigestive systemIntermediate Urinary system (RSC)Angioblast → Endothelial cell · Mesangial cell (Intraglomerular, Extraglomerular) · Juxtaglomerular cell · Macula densa cell
Stromal cell → Interstitial cell → Telocytes
Simple epithelial cell → Podocyte · Kidney proximal tubule brush border cellLateral plate/
hemangioblastsee lymphocytessee myeloid cellsCategories:- Cell biology stubs
- Connective tissue cells
- GAG secreting cells
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