Definitions for cartilage
ˈkɑr tl ɪdʒ, ˈkɑrt lɪdʒcar·ti·lage

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cartilage, gristlenoun

   tough elastic tissue; mostly converted to bone in adults

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cartilagenoun

   A type of dense, non-vascular connective tissue, usually found at the end of joints, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, in the throat and between intervertebral disks.

2. Etymology: From cartilage, from cartilago.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. CARTILAGEnoun

   A smooth and solid body, softer than a bone, but harder than a ligament. In it are no cavities or cells for containing of marrow; nor is it covered over with any membrane to make it sensible, as the bones are. The cartilages have a natural elasticity, by which, if they are forced from their natural figure or situation, they return to it of themselves, as soon as that force is taken away. John Quincy

   Etymology: cartilago, Lat.

   Those canals, by degrees, are abolished, and grow solid; several of them united, grow a membrane; these membranes further consolidated, become cartilages, and cartilages bones. John Arbuthnot, on Aliments.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Cartilage

   Cartilage is a resilient and smooth type of connective tissue. In tetrapods, it covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints as articular cartilage, and is a structural component of many body parts including the rib cage, the neck and the bronchial tubes, and the intervertebral discs. In other taxa, such as chondrichthyans, but also in cyclostomes, it may constitute a much greater proportion of the skeleton. It is not as hard and rigid as bone, but it is much stiffer and much less flexible than muscle. The matrix of cartilage is made up of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, collagen fibers and, sometimes, elastin. Because of its rigidity, cartilage often serves the purpose of holding tubes open in the body. Examples include the rings of the trachea, such as the cricoid cartilage and carina. Cartilage is composed of specialized cells called chondrocytes that produce a large amount of collagenous extracellular matrix, abundant ground substance that is rich in proteoglycan and elastin fibers. Cartilage is classified in three types, elastic cartilage, hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage, which differ in relative amounts of collagen and proteoglycan. Cartilage does not contain blood vessels or nerves. Some fibrocartilage such as the meniscus of the knee does however have blood supply in part. Nutrition is supplied to the chondrocytes by diffusion. The compression of the articular cartilage or flexion of the elastic cartilage generates fluid flow, which assists the diffusion of nutrients to the chondrocytes. Compared to other connective tissues, cartilage has a very slow turnover of its extracellular matrix and is documented to repair at only a very slow rate relative to other tissues.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Cartilagenoun

   a translucent, elastic tissue; gristle

2. Etymology: [L. cartilago; cf. F. cartilage.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Cartilage

   Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs. It is not as hard and rigid as bone but is stiffer and less flexible than muscle. Cartilage is composed of specialized cells called chondroblasts that produce a large amount of extracellular matrix composed of collagen fibers, abundant ground substance rich in proteoglycan, and elastin fibers. Cartilage is classified in three types, elastic cartilage, hyaline cartilage and fibrocartilage, which differ in the relative amounts of these three main components. Chondroblasts that get caught in the matrix are called chondrocytes. They lie in spaces called lacunae with up to eight chondrocytes per lacuna. Unlike other connective tissues, cartilage does not contain blood vessels. The chondrocytes are supplied by diffusion, helped by the pumping action generated by compression of the articular cartilage or flexion of the elastic cartilage. Thus, compared to other connective tissues, cartilage grows and repairs more slowly.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Cartilage

   kär′ti-lāj, n. in vertebrate animals, a firm elastic substance, of a pearly whiteness, presenting to the unaided eye a uniform and homogeneous appearance: gristle.—adj. Cartilagi′nous, pertaining to or consisting of cartilage, gristly. [Fr.,—L. cartilago; cog. with crates, Gr. kartalos.]

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Cartilage

   A non-vascular form of connective tissue composed of CHONDROCYTES embedded in a matrix that includes CHONDROITIN SULFATE and various types of FIBRILLAR COLLAGEN. There are three major types: HYALINE CARTILAGE; FIBROCARTILAGE; and ELASTIC CARTILAGE.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cartilage

   A form of flexible connective tissue in areas of the body of humans and other animals.

   In humans cartilage can be found in the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs. In animals it often serves the purpose of holding tubes open in an animal's body.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on May 14, 2015  

Matched Categories

1. • Animal Tissue

Anagrams for cartilage »

1. rectalgia

How to pronounce cartilage?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

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   Libby

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   Mia

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   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

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   Natasha

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   Priya

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   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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How to say cartilage in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of cartilage in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of cartilage in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of cartilage in a Sentence

1. Jonathan Houghton:

   When the shark opens its mouth, it's kind of like opening your jacket on a windy day. It inflates out and that cartilage gives it some structure so that its skin isn't just flapping around.

2. Bill Marlette:

   There's no cartilage, i'm bone-on-bone. It is constantly inflamed and very sore.

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=cartilage
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Cartilage
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=cartilage
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartilage
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cartilage
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=cartilage
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=cartilage