What is Difference Between Bone and Cartilage?
The Main Difference Between Bone and Cartilage is that Both bones and cartilage are important parts or tissues of our body but differ greatly in terms of structure and function.Bone is strong and flexible connective tissue while cartilages are flexible connective tissue.
If you want a little more information about this interesting topic, read on, as we explain below the difference between cartilage and bone.
BONE
Bones are a type of hard tissue that makes up the skeletal structure of the body. They can be classified as long, short, flat, irregular, sesamoid and sutural.
The main functions of the bones are to protect the body against mechanical damage, allow the movement of the body, provide the body with a frame or shape, store minerals and produce red and white cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes).
Bones make up the bulk of the axial and appendicular skeleton. Many of them are composed of osteoblasts (progenitor cells), osteocytes (mature bone cells) and osteoclasts (large cells that bone tissue uses for growth and repair). The bones are highly vascularized
CARTILAGE
Unlike bones, cartilages are not as rigid and hard and are present in areas of the body such as ears, nose and joints. In the joints, the cartilages cover the endings of the bones and act to absorb the force of the crashes and thus prevent the bones from rubbing against each other.
There are different types of cartilage, for example, there are hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage and elastic cartilage. The main functions of these are: maintain the shape and flexibility of the fleshy appendages, support the respiratory tract, reduce the friction of the joints, and block the crashes between the bones.
Key differences between bones and cartilage
- Bones are much harder than cartilage.
- Cartilages are softer than bones.
- Bones make up the skeleton and help movement, while cartilage reduces joint friction.
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