The outer surface of the perichondrium is continuous with the connective tissue of the organs where the cartilage is positioned whereas its inner surface is attached to the cartilaginous tissue.
Cells called chondroblasts wich the potential to develop into chondrocytes exist at the inner surface of the perichondrium. These cells behave like cartilage stem cells and may differentiate into chondrocytes. After differentiation, the new chondrocytes are added to the cartilage surface, hence the term “appositional growth.”
The image shows a small region of the perichondrium of a hyaline cartilage. In its outermost region (below and to the left), the perichondrium has characteristics of dense, modeled connective tissue.
In its inner region, which continues with the cartilage tissue proper, we can observe cells that are differentiating into chondrocytes. The arrow indicates the direction of the transition of differentiating cells into new chondrocytes.
