Hyaline cartilage is the translucent covering at the end of joints where it is called articular cartilage, but it is also found in other parts of the body. 

hyaline cartilage

Photograph taken during keyhole surgery, showing close up the hyaline cartilage covering the ends of the bones in the knee.

 

hyaline cartilage

 

Illustration of the matrix and the cartilage cells embedded in lacunae (pockets).

 

Composition of hyaline cartilage

Hyaline cartilage consists predominantly of a glassy-looking matrix containing collagen fibres, with small pockets of cartilage cells.

Synonyms: 
Joint cartilage
Articular cartilage
Gristle
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Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...