CHAPTER IV. 



CARTILAGE BONE TEETH. 

 CARTILAGE. 



CARTILAGE consists, like other members of the 

 connective-tissue group, of cells and intercellular 

 substance. There is nothing characteristic, how- 

 ever, in the form of the cartilage-cells. It is in the 

 peculiar nature of the intercellular substance and 

 the relations which the cells bear to it, that we find 

 the distinctive features of this form of connective 

 tissue. The cartilage-cells are spheroidal, flattened 

 or angular in form ; the cell-body is finely granular' 

 and often contains tiny droplets of fat, and some- 

 times pigment granules. The cells have one or 

 sometimes two sharply defined nuclei, which are 

 coarsely granular and often contain an irregular 

 network of a more strongly refractive substance. 

 Around each cartilage-cell, in the adult animal, and 

 closely enclosing it, is a homogeneous envelope 

 called the capsule. The substance forming this cap- 

 sule is identical with the intercellular substance of 

 hyaline cartilage, presently to be described. 



The cartilage-cells very readily lose their normal 

 form and relation to the capsule by the application 



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