Elastic fibers; Description: This cartilage is similar to hyaline cartilage, but it contains many more elastic fibers [3]. The main function of elastic connective tissue is to provide extensibility and elasticity to the bodily organs. It occurs where flexibility is required, such as the epiglottis, external ear, and auditory tubes. Elastic cartilage’s role is purely structural, offering flexibility and resilience due to a mixture of elastic fibers and type II collagen fibers. On most slides, the elastic fibers [3] stain with a darker stain so you can see the elastic network that is formed. Elastic cartilage, fibrocartilage, and hyaline cartilage can all be damaged. (a) Hyaline cartilage provides support with some flexibility. These parts of the anatomy are required to always spring back into the original shape. In adults, it can be found in tracheal rings, bronchi, nose, larynx, articular surfaces, and in the joints between the sternum and ribs. Elastin fibers stain dark purple/black with Verhoeff's stain . It is a different form of connective tissue. Elastic cartilage is found predominately in the external ear and as well as around the epiglottis. Cartilage is a resilient and smooth elastic tissue, rubber-like padding that covers and protects the ends of long bones at the joints and nerves. Elastic cartilage is primarily found in the external ear (auricle or pinna), the Eustachian tube, and the epiglottis. These are relatively soft and elastic or flexible. Function: Maintains the shape of a structure while allowing great flexibility; Location: Elastic cartilage provides support with moderate elasticity. Elastic Cartilage. It is yellow in color, and without the organized … The costal cartilages (present at the anterior end of the ribs) are of hyaline cartilage. Elastic Cartilage Elastic cartilage is similar to hyaline cartilage but also contains elastic fibers. Cartilage is a connective tissue consisting of collagenous fibers embedded in a firm matrix of chondroitin sulfates. Cartilage is not hard just like bone. Hence, it occurs in the lung tissue, around arterial walls, airways, in the vocal folds, and the dermis of the skin. https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/histology-of-elastic-cartilage The example is from dog tissue. The cartilage present in the wall of the trachea and bronchi are of a hyaline type. As animal gets old, hyaline cartilage loses water content and necrotic areas may appear in the central parts of the cartilage. The chondrocytes lie between the fibres. The articular cartilages (which cover the articular surfaces of bones involved in the formation of synovial joints) are also of hyaline cartilage. It is found mainly in the larynx, the external part of the ear (pinna), and the tube leading from the middle … (c) Elastic cartilage provides firm but elastic support. It is found in the epiglottis (part of the larynx), the pinnae (the external ear flaps of many mammals). (b) Fibrocartilage provides some compressibility and can absorb pressure. Elastic. Elastic cartilage is found in the ear and epiglottis (located in the throat) as well as parts of the nose and trachea. These fibers give elastic cartilage great flexibility so that it is able to withstand repeated bending. This type of connective tissue also contains collagen fibers and cells called fibroblasts.