Surface of cartilage is invested by a connective tissue membrane called perichondrium which consists of an inner chondrogenic and outer fibrous layer.

Ground substance of cartilage appears homogenous in fresh condition or in ordinary preparations. Only the walls of the lacunae stand out as mere refractive rings intensely staining with basic dyes. These rings are called capsules. These are not of the nature of cell membranes but represent considerations of the matrix surrounding the cells.  The ground substance

White fibro cartilage is a combination of dense collagenous fibers and cartilage cells. The cells are surrounded by capsules which in turn are surrounded by variable amounts of matrix. Frequently, the cells enclosed in capsules, lie in rows between which are dense wavy bundles of collagenous fibres. Fibrous cartilage occurs in intervertebral, discs, interarticular cartilage,

In Elastic Cartilage elastic fibers are present and embedded in the matrix. These fibers branch and run in all directions and anastomose to form a dense network. In the peripheral layers, the fibres are thin and the network wide meshed. In the deeper portions, they are thicker and more closely packed. Elastic cartilage is present

Hyaline cartilage appears as a bluish-white translucent mass when fresh. It forms the articular cartilage of joints, the costal cartilages and cartilages of nose, larynx trachea and bronchi. In the foetus nearly the entire skeleton is first laid down as hyaline cartilage and later replaced by osseous tissue in the formation of bone. The tissue

Cartilage consists of the cells termed as chondrocytes, matrix (ground substance) and fibres. The matrix is solid and has marked elastic properties. It withstands considerable pressure and tension. According to the nature and visibility of fibrillar elements, cartilage is subdivided into three varieties: Hyaline Elastic Fibrous In these, hyaline cartilage is the most widely distributed

Certain glands are lacking in ducts and are termed endocrine glands. The endocrine glands secrete specific chemical substance called hormones which have specific effects on the other tissue or organs of the body e.g., thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary etc. The secretions of these glands are conveyed directly into the blood stream. To facilitate this endocrine glands have

Based on the consistency of the secretion, glands are classified into Serous, Mucous and Mixed glands. Serous glands produce a whey-like serous secretion. Mucous gland produces a slightly more viscid fluid. The glands that secrete mucin, glycoprotein which when mixed with water become mucous are termed as mucous glands. Any gland that produces a mixture of serous

Glands may be classified as cytogenous and non-cellular based on the nature of secretion Cytogenous gland produces living cells as their secretion. Eg. Testis, Ovary. Non-cellular glands are further classified into serous, mucous and mixed glands based on the consistency of their secretion

Based on the mode of secretion classification is based on the manner in which the secretory cells of the glands elaborate their secretion. Based on this glands are classified into Holocrine, merocrine and apocrine gland. In holocrine glands, the secretory products are accumulated in the cytoplasm of a cell, which disintegrates fully and constitutes the secretion secreted