Bone vs. Cartilage

Bones 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.

Key Differences

Cells of bones are known as osteocytes while cells of cartilage are called chondrocytes.

The matrix of bones is organic and inorganic while cartilage’s matrix is entirely organic.

The matrix of bones contains lamellae while the matrix of cartilage is homogenous without lamellae.

Bones have a high potential of healing while cartilages have the poor healing ability.

Samantha Walker

Nov 27, 2017

Bone stores high concentration of calcium while cartilage has no significance of calcium stores.

The matrix of bones has a protein which is called ossein while protein of cartilage matrix is called chondrin.

The matrix of bones is vascular while the matrix of cartilage is avascular.

Growth pattern of bones is bidirectional while growth pattern of cartilage is unidirectional.

Aimie Carlson

Nov 27, 2017

Comparison Chart

.

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

Janet White

Nov 27, 2017

Constituents

Cells and extracellular matrix

Harlon Moss

Nov 27, 2017

Types

Compact and spongy bones

Hyaline, fibro, elastic cartilage

Harlon Moss

Nov 27, 2017

Uses

Support, protection, assisting movement, mineral homeostasis, blood cell production.

Friction reduction, Support, growth, and development of long bones

Janet White

Nov 27, 2017

Bone and Cartilage Definitions

Bone

The dense, semirigid, porous, calcified connective tissue forming the major portion of the skeleton of most vertebrates. It consists of a dense organic matrix and an inorganic, mineral component.

Cartilage

A tough, elastic, fibrous connective tissue that is a major constituent of the embryonic and young vertebrate skeleton and in most species is converted largely to bone with maturation. It is found in various parts of the human body, such as the joints, outer ear, and larynx.

Bone

Any of numerous anatomically distinct structures making up the skeleton of a vertebrate animal. There are more than 200 different bones in the human body.

Cartilage

A usually translucent and somewhat elastic, dense, nonvascular connective tissue found in various forms in the larynx and respiratory tract, in structures such as the external ear, and in the articulating surfaces of joints. It composes most of the skeleton of vertebrate embryos, being replaced by bone during ossification in the higher vertebrates.

Bone

A piece of bone.

Cartilage

A particular structure made of cartilage.

Bone

The skeleton.

Cartilage

A translucent, elastic tissue; gristle.

Bone

The body

These old bones don't do much dancing anymore.

Cartilage

Tough elastic tissue; mostly converted to bone in adults

Bone

Mortal remains

His bones are buried up on the hill.

Bone

An animal structure or material, such as ivory, resembling bone.

Bone

A piece of whalebone or similar material used as a corset stay.

Bone

Bones(Informal) Dice.

Bone

Bones The fundamental plan or design, as of the plot of a book.

Bone

Bones Flat clappers made of bone or wood originally used by the end man in a minstrel show.

Bone

Bones (used with a sing. verb) The end man in a minstrel show.

Bone

Vulgar Slang The penis.

Bone

To remove the bones from

Bone a fish.

Bone

To stiffen (a piece of clothing) with stays, as of whalebone.

Bone

Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with. Used especially of a man.

Bone

Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse.

Bone

(uncountable) A composite material consisting largely of calcium phosphate and collagen and making up the skeleton of most vertebrates.

Bone

(countable) Any of the components of an endoskeleton, made of bone.

Bone

A bone of a fish; a fishbone.

Bone

A bonefish.

Bone

One of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, the boning, originally made of whalebone.

Bone

One of the fragments of bone held between the fingers of the hand and rattled together to keep time to music.

Bone

Anything made of bone, such as a bobbin for weaving bone lace.

Bone

(figurative) The framework of anything.

Bone

An off-white colour, like the colour of bone.

Bone

A dollar.

Bone

The wishbone formation.

Bone

(slang) An erect penis; a boner.

Bone

A domino or dice.

Bone

(slang) A cannabis cigarette; a joint.

Bone

(figurative) A reward.

Bone

(slang) trombone

Bone

Of an off-white colour, like the colour of bone.

Bone

To prepare (meat, etc) by removing the bone or bones from.

Bone

To fertilize with bone.

Bone

To put whalebone into.

Bone

(civil engineering) To make level, using a particular procedure; to survey a level line.

Boning rod

Bone

To have sexual intercourse (with).

Bone

To perform "bone pointing", a ritual that is intended to bring illness or even death to the victim.

Bone

(usually with "up") To study.

Bone up

Bone

To polish boots to a shiny finish.

Bone

To nag, especially for an unpaid debt.

Bone

To apprehend, steal.

Bone

To sight along an object or set of objects to check whether they are level or in line.

Bone

The hard, calcified tissue of the skeleton of vertebrate animals, consisting very largely of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and gelatine; as, blood and bone.

Bone

One of the pieces or parts of an animal skeleton; as, a rib or a thigh bone; a bone of the arm or leg; also, any fragment of bony substance. (pl.) The frame or skeleton of the body.

Bone

Anything made of bone, as a bobbin for weaving bone lace.

Bone

Two or four pieces of bone held between the fingers and struck together to make a kind of music.

Bone

Dice.

Bone

Whalebone; hence, a piece of whalebone or of steel for a corset.

Bone

Fig.: The framework of anything.

Bone

To withdraw bones from the flesh of, as in cookery.

Bone

To put whalebone into; as, to bone stays.

Bone

To fertilize with bone.

Bone

To steal; to take possession of.

Bone

To sight along an object or set of objects, to see if it or they be level or in line, as in carpentry, masonry, and surveying.

Joiners, etc., bone their work with two straight edges. W.

Bone

Rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates

Bone

The porous calcified substance from which bones are made

Bone

A shade of white the color of bleached bones

Bone

Study intensively, as before an exam;

I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam

Bone

Remove the bones from;

Bone the turkey before roasting it

Bone

Consisting of or made up of bone;

A bony substance

The bony framework of the body

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.

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