Fibrocartilage is composed of chondrocytes located between thick, parallel bundles of collagen fibers, mainly type I collagen.
The combination of these strong collagen bundles with the specialized extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by the chondrocytes enables fibrocartilage to withstand substantial mechanical forces, particularly tension, compression, and torsion.
Fibrocartilage is therefore a strong and resilient tissue found in places subject to significant physical forces, such as the intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, temporomandibular and the hip joints and in sites of attachment of tendons to bones
The upper image is a low-magnification view of an intervertebral disc that shows chondrocytes situated between bundles of collagen fibers.
Its extracellular matrix does not stain bluish as in other types of cartilage, because it is formed mainly by collagen (that stains pink with eosin).
In the higher-magnification lower figure observe the chondrocytes aligned in rows between thick collagen fibers and it is very evident that the chondrocytes are placed inside lacunae. The chondrocytes are clearly located within lacunae. In this image, the chondrocytes are highlighted in blue and the collagen fibers in pink.
The differential diagnosis between fibrocartilage and tendon is made by observing their cells: elongated fibroblasts in tendons and round chondrocytes in fibrocartilage.
Fibrocartilage. Staining: HE. Small magnification.
Fibrocartilage. Staining: HE. Medium magnification.
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