Bone vs. Cartilage
Main DifferenceBones are hard connective tissues which form skeletal system while cartilages are soft connective tissues which are present in nose, ear, joints and on the coverings of bones.

Difference Between Bone and Cartilage
Bone vs. Cartilage
Cells of bones are known as osteocytes while cells of cartilage are called chondrocytes.
Bone vs. Cartilage
The matrix of bones is vascular while the matrix of cartilage is avascular.
Bone vs. Cartilage
The matrix of bones is organic and inorganic while cartilage’s matrix is entirely organic.
Bone vs. Cartilage
The matrix of bones contains lamellae while the matrix of cartilage is homogenous without lamellae.
Bone vs. Cartilage
The matrix of bones has a protein which is called ossein while protein of cartilage matrix is called chondrin.
Bone vs. Cartilage
Growth pattern of bones is bidirectional while growth pattern of cartilage is unidirectional.
Bone vs. Cartilage
Bones have a high potential of healing while cartilages have the poor healing ability.
Bone vs. Cartilage
Bone stores high concentration of calcium while cartilage has no significance of calcium stores.
Bonenoun
(uncountable) A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates.
Cartilagenoun
(anatomy) A type of dense, non-vascular connective tissue, usually found at the end of joints, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, in the throat and between intervertebral disks.
Bonenoun
(countable) Any of the components of an endoskeleton, made of bone.
Cartilagenoun
tough elastic tissue; mostly converted to bone in adults
Bonenoun
A bone of a fish; a fishbone.
Bonenoun
A bonefish
Bonenoun
One of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, the boning, originally made of whalebone.
Bonenoun
One of the fragments of bone held between the fingers of the hand and rattled together to keep time to music.
Bonenoun
Anything made of bone, such as a bobbin for weaving bone lace.
Bonenoun
(figurative) The framework of anything.
Bonenoun
An off-white colour, like the colour of bone.
Bonenoun
A dollar.
Bonenoun
The wishbone formation.
Bonenoun
(slang) An erect penis; a boner.
Bonenoun
A domino or dice.
Bonenoun
(slang) lang=en
Boneadjective
Of an off-white colour, like the colour of bone.
Boneverb
To prepare (meat, etc) by removing the bone or bones from.
Boneverb
To fertilize with bone.
Boneverb
To put whalebone into.
to bone staysBoneverb
(civil engineering) To make level, using a particular procedure; to survey a level line.
boning rodBoneverb
To have sexual intercourse with.
Boneverb
To perform "bone pointing", a ritual that is intended to bring illness or even death to the victim.
Boneverb
(usually with "up") To study.
bone upBoneverb
To polish boots to a shiny finish.
Boneverb
To apprehend, steal.
Boneverb
To sight along an object or set of objects to check whether they are level or in line.
Bonenoun
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
Bonenoun
the porous calcified substance from which bones are made
Bonenoun
a shade of white the color of bleached bones
Boneverb
study intensively, as before an exam;
I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final examBoneverb
remove the bones from;
bone the turkey before roasting itBoneadjective
consisting of or made up of bone;
a bony substancethe bony framework of the bodyComparison Chart
Bone | Cartilage |
Hard, inelastic and tough | Soft, elastic and flexible |
Location | |
Majorly on the axial and appendicular skeleton. | Joints, ear, nose and respiratory tract. |
Nourishment | |
Through vascular system | Through nearby tissues of perichondrium |
Growth | |
Endochondral, Intramembranous | Interstitial growth, Appositional growth |
Constituents | |
Cells and extracellular matrix | Cells and extracellular matrix |
Types | |
Compact and spongy bones | Hyaline, fibro, elastic cartilage |
Uses | |
Support, protection, assisting movement, mineral homeostasis, blood cell production. | Friction reduction, Support, growth, and development of long bones |
Bone vs. Cartilage
A bone is a hard connective tissue of the body that have whitish tissue that completes the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates. On the other hand, Cartilage is a stiff, flexible and connected tissue and mostly have their location on the larynx and ear. Initially, they exist in large amounts in the body but when a person grows up, gets replaced by bone. Some of the main types of cartilage include the hyaline, fibro and elastic types. On the other hand, some of the primary types of bones include compact bones and cancellous bones. The location of bones exists throughout the body from our skull, ribs, legs, arms, back and even thighs. On the other hand, the area of cartilage in our body ranges from ears. Nose, larynx, trachea, joints, discs, and epiglottis. Cartilage has a flexible nature with elasticity as a feature and flexibility existing. On the other hand, bones have a hard texture, less flexible, also lack any flexibility but have toughness. Bones always have an abundant supply of blood and therefore have more delicate features and strength, on the other hand, cartilage does not have a supply of fresh blood except for the perichondrium. The matrix of cartilage may have calcium salts, but for most cases, it does not exist. Although, calcium salts lives in the bones.
What is Bone?
Bones are strong, flexible and semi rigid supporting connective tissues. Bone is made up of cells and extracellular matrix. Cells of bones are called osteoblasts and osteocytes. Two other types of cells are also present which are osteoclasts and osteoprogenitor cells. The extracellular matrix of bones is made up of an organic matrix (30%) containing proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins, osteonectin, and osteocalcin. Besides these, collagen fibers are present. 70% bone is made up of a bone mineral called hydroxyapatite, and 30% is made up of water. Bones are resistant to twisting, bending, compression, and stretch. It is hard because it is calcified and collagen fibers help it to resist tensile stresses. The primary bone which is formed at any site is called woven bone which is soon replaced by lamellar bone. In woven bone, the collagen fibers are random while in lamellar bone, these are parallel in layers. There are two types of mature bones; compact and spongy bones. Compact bones are found in the shaft of long bones in the diaphysis. These are 80% of all bones. Spongy bones are located at the ends of long bones in the epiphysis. These make 20% of all bones. Red bone marrow and a network of bony trabeculae are present in spongy bones. A dense fibrous layer where muscles insert, called periosteum is found on the outside of bones. Bone forming cells are also found in the periosteum. Tissues that cover the inner surface of bones are called endosteum. The inner cavity of bones contains blood vessels and bone marrow which nourish the bone and play a significant role in its growth. There are two ways of growth in bones; endochondral and intramembranous. Endochondral is the formation of bone onto temporary cartilage model while intramembranous is the formation of bone directly onto fibrous connective tissues. This type of bone formation occurs in a few specialized places such as the flat bones of skull, maxilla, mandible, and clavicles. Cells of mesenchyme differentiate into osteoprogenitor cells, then into osteoblasts, which secrete the bone matrix. Once the osteoblasts are embedded in the matrix, they are called as osteocytes.
What is Cartilage?
Cartilage is a flexible, strong and semi rigid supporting tissue. It can withstand compression but also show bending. It is made up of cells (chondroblasts and chondrocytes) and extracellular matrix. Besides these, 10% aggrecan, 75% water and a mix of collagen fibers are also present. Cartilages are used to form supporting framework of some organs, articulating surfaces of some organs and to constitute the template for the growth and development of long bones. Cartilages are of three types; hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage, and elastic cartilage. Hyaline cartilage is most common which has a glassy appearance. Fibrocartilages are tendon insertions and invertebral discs which are reinforced with parallel bundles of collagen fibers. Elastic cartilages are external ear and epiglottis and resilient which has elastic fibers as well as collagen fibers. Cartilages are avascular so are nourished by long range diffusion from nearby capillaries in the perichondrium. So cartilages cannot become thick because diffusion would not be sufficient to supply the cartilage with nutrients and oxygen. There are two ways of cartilage growth; interstitial growth and appositional growth. In interstitial growth, chondrocytes grow and divide and lay down more matrix inside the existing cartilage. It happens during childhood and adolescence. In appositional growth, new surface layers of the matrix are added to the pre-existing matrix by new chondroblasts from the perichondrium.