What is fibrocartilage?

• A. Cartilage found in cartilaginous joints
• B. Cartilage found in synovial joints
• C. Cartilage found in pinna and larynx
• D. Cartilage found in intervertebral discs

Answer: (A)

Fibrocartilage is a tough, fibrous type of cartilage that is rich in collagen and designed to resist compression and shear. It forms structures that absorb shock and withstand heavy mechanical loads, such as the discs between vertebrae and the pubic symphysis. In joints, this tissue is characteristic of cartilaginous joints (the type that connect bones with a fibrocartilaginous pad or disc rather than at the smooth surfaces of a synovial joint). That’s why it’s described as cartilage found in cartilaginous joints. By contrast, elastic cartilage makes up the ear and parts of the larynx, and hyaline cartilage lines the ends of bones in synovial joints, providing a smooth, low-friction surface. Intervertebral discs are a classic example of fibrocartilage in a cartilaginous joint.