Question

Write four main differences between bone and cartilage.

Answer 1

Hint: The skeletal system has four components: bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. The skeletal system allows body movements. Bones and cartilages are special forms of connective tissue. Their nature of matrix defines the properties of these connective tissues. In bone, the cells and tissues are enclosed within intercellular material and on the other hand Cartilage is thin , fibrous tissue that forms padding at the end of long bones.

Complete Answer:
The four main differences between bone and cartilage are:

Sl.No	Bones	Cartilage
1.	Bones are rigid, non-flexible, and robust.	Whereas Cartilages are flexible, soft, and elastic.
2.	There are five types of bones:• Long bones – Example: Humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia and fabula.• Short bones- Example: carpals and tarsals.• Flat bones – Example: skull bones, sternum, ribs.• Irregular bones- Ear ossicles ( malleus, incus and stapes) and vertebrae.• Sesamoid bones- Example: Patella(Knee cap), fabella and pisciform.	There are three types of cartilages:• Fibrocartilage• Elastic cartilage• Hyaline cartilage
3.	Blood supply: Bones have rich blood supply with deposition of calcium salts	Blood supply: whereas Cartilage lacks blood supply except in some cartilage with no deposition of calcium salts.
4.	Direction of growth: Bones grow in both directions means they are bidirectional.	Direction of growth: On the other hand, Cartilage grows only on one side i.e. unidirectional.

Note: Ends of long bones are covered with hyaline cartilage. Function of long bones in mammals is to provide support and to produce RBCs and WBCs. Epiphyseal plates at the extremities of long bones help in the elongation of bone. Bone formed by ossification of a tendon is called sesamoid bone.