EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX OF THE HYALINE CARTILAGE
The extracellular matrix of cartilage is produced and maintained by the chondrocytes.
In hyaline cartilage, the matrix is quite homogeneous and stains in different shades of blue/purple with hematoxylin.
There is often an accumulation of matrix molecules around isolated chondrocytes and around isogenous groups. This accumulation is called the territorial matrix (T in the image), in contrast to the less concentrated matrix that exists between isogenous groups, called the interterritorial matrix (IT in the image).
The staining of the territorial matrix is more pronounced than that of the interterritorial matrix because it contains a greater amount of proteoglycans.
In hyaline cartilage, the matrix is quite homogeneous and stains in different shades of blue/purple with hematoxylin.
There is often an accumulation of matrix molecules around isolated chondrocytes and around isogenous groups. This accumulation is called the territorial matrix (T in the image), in contrast to the less concentrated matrix that exists between isogenous groups, called the interterritorial matrix (IT in the image).
The staining of the territorial matrix is more pronounced than that of the interterritorial matrix because it contains a greater amount of proteoglycans.
