Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications,
Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com
Cartilage is a type of hard, thick, slippery tissue that coats the
ends of bones where they meet with other bones to form a joint. Cartilage lines
the joint space between bones throughout the body, including the spine and the
rib cage. It acts as a protective cushion between bones to absorb the stress
applied to joints during movement.
Cartilage is made up of protein strands called collagen that form a
tough, meshlike framework. The mesh is filled with substances that hold water,
much like a sponge. When weight is placed on cartilage, water is squeezed out
of the mesh. When weight is taken off, the water returns. Cartilage does not
contain blood vessels or nerves.
