Question

What are the following and where do you find them in the animal body.
A. Chondrocytes
B. Axons
C. Ciliated epithelium

Answer 1

Hint: The above options enlisted are different types of cells present in animals. The word chondrocyte is so-called because chondros means cartilage and cytos means cell. Axons are also called nerve cells and in the ciliated epithelium, the word cilia refer to hair like structure or projections.

Complete answer: A. Chondrocyte: The only cells found in healthy cartilage are chondrocytes. In the cartilage matrix, rounded or polygonal structures called chondrocytes are found. Chondrocytes produce and maintain cartilaginous matrices in which mainly collagen and proteoglycans are found. The immature chondrocyte is commonly called chondroblast.

B. Axon: Axon in other terms also called nerve fiber is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell. Nerve cells commonly called neurons are the specialized cells of the nervous system of the human body. Its function is to conduct electrical impulses known as action potentials away from the nerve cell body. Transmission of information to different neurons, muscles, and glands is conducted by the axon of the nerve cell. Nerve fibers are further classified into three types – group A nerve fibers, group B nerve fibers, and group C nerve fibers. Groups A and group B are myelinated and group C is unmyelinated.

C. Ciliated epithelium: The ciliated epithelium consists of simple columnar or cuboidal epithelium which shows the presence of small, hair-like structures called cilia on their free surface. Ciliated epithelium is found within the bronchioles of the respiratory tract and in the fallopian tube of the female reproductive tract.

Note: In some sensory neurons, axons are called afferent nerve fibers. Many inherited and acquired neurological disorders which can affect both the peripheral and central neurons have been caused by axon dysfunction.