Question at position 23 The unique appearance of cartilage under a microscope is due to the presence of:Collagen fibersChondroitin sulfatesFibroblastsElastic fibers

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When analyzing why cartilage looks the way it does under a microscope, we should evaluate what each structural component contributes to the tissue's appearance.
Option 1: Collagen fibers. This choice aligns with the idea that the extracellular matrix of cartilage contains a dense network of collagen fibers, particularly type II collagen, which provides a fibrous framework that contributes to the distinctive, organized appearance of cartilage when stained. The fibrous mesh helps give cartilage its tensile strength and characteristic texture seen histologically.
Option 2: Chondroitin sulfates. While chondroitin sulfates are major components of the cartilage proteoglycan aggregates and contribute to the matrix’s hydration and compressive resilience, they are part of the ground substance rather than the fibrous framework. Their presence helps explain swelling and viscoelastic properties, but they are not the primary reason for the cartilage’s unique fibrous appearance under standard stains.
Option 3: Fibroblasts. Chondrocytes (and their isogenic groups) are the principal cells in cartilage, not fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are more characteristic of connective tissues like fascia and dermis. Therefore, attributing the microscopic appearance to fibroblasts would misidentify the cell type responsible for cartilage structure.
Option 4: Elastic fibers. Elastic fibers are abundant in elastic cartilage in specific sites (e.g., epiglottis, ear) but are not the defining feature of the typical hyaline cartilage matrix seen in most histology images. For general cartilage appearance, elastic fibers are not the primary contributor to its common histological look.
Overall, the principal contributor to the unique microscopic appearance being described here is the network formed by collagen fibers, which creates the organized, fibrous matrix characteristic of cartilage in many staining preparations.

Question at position 23 The unique appearance of cartilage under a microscope is due to the presence of:Collagen fibersChondroitin sulfatesFibroblastsElastic fibers

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