Elastic cartilage

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Elastic cartilage
The auricula. Lateral surface.
Gray's	subject #68 279
Dorlands/Elsevier	c_12/12216650

Elastic cartilage is a type of cartilage present in the outer ear, larynx, and epiglottis which contains fibers made of elastin.

Elastic cartilage, histologically is similar to hyaline cartilage but contains a plethora of elastic fibers. These fibers form bundles that appear dark under a microscope. These fibers give elastic cartilage great flexibility so that it is able to withstand repeated bending. It is found in the epiglottis (part of the larynx) and the pinnae (the external ear flaps of many mammals including man). Elastin fibers stain dark purple/black with Verhoeff stain.

[edit] External links

• Elastic+cartilage at eMedicine Dictionary
• UIUC Histology Subject 768
• Histology at OU 12_02 - "epiglottis"
• Histology at BU 02901loa
• Histology at ucsd.edu
• Histology at USC cart/c_21
• Anatomy Atlases - Microscopic Anatomy, plate 03.42

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e Musculoskeletal system, connective tissue: bone and cartilage Cartilage perichondrium, fibrocartilage callus, metaphysis cells (chondroblast, chondrocyte) types (hyaline, elastic, fibrous) Bone ossification (intramembranous, endochondral, epiphyseal plate) cycle (osteoblast, osteoid, osteocyte, osteoclast) types (cancellous, cortical) regions (epiphysis, metaphysis, diaphysis) structure (osteon/Haversian system, Haversian canals, Volkmann's canals, endosteum, periosteum, Sharpey's fibres, enthesis, lacunae, canaliculi, trabeculae, medullary cavity, bone marrow) shapes (long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid)