Which property describes hyaline cartilage?

Which property describes hyaline cartilage?

• A. Hydrophilic
• B. Highly innervated
• C. Well vascularized
• D. Easily damaged under compression

Answer: (A)

Hydration drives how hyaline cartilage behaves. The extracellular matrix is rich in proteoglycans that attract and hold a lot of water, making the tissue highly hydrated. This hydrophilic nature creates swelling pressure that helps resist compressive forces in the joint, so the cartilage can absorb load while providing a smooth, low-friction surface for movement. Hyaline cartilage is not highly innervated and is not well vascularized; there are no nerves and it relies on diffusion from the underlying bone for nutrients. Because of its water-rich matrix, it’s built to handle compression rather than be easily damaged under normal loads, though excessive or repetitive overload can still cause injury.

Hydration drives how hyaline cartilage behaves. The extracellular matrix is rich in proteoglycans that attract and hold a lot of water, making the tissue highly hydrated. This hydrophilic nature creates swelling pressure that helps resist compressive forces in the joint, so the cartilage can absorb load while providing a smooth, low-friction surface for movement. Hyaline cartilage is not highly innervated and is not well vascularized; there are no nerves and it relies on diffusion from the underlying bone for nutrients. Because of its water-rich matrix, it’s built to handle compression rather than be easily damaged under normal loads, though excessive or repetitive overload can still cause injury.