Chondrocytes reside in which spaces within cartilage?

Chondrocytes reside in which spaces within cartilage?

• A. Lacunae
• B. Haversian canals
• C. Osteons
• D. Trabeculae

Answer: (A)

Chondrocytes reside in lacunae, which are tiny spaces embedded within the cartilaginous matrix. These pockets house the cells that produce and maintain the surrounding extracellular matrix, giving cartilage its characteristic resilience and flexibility. The other terms are structures associated with bone rather than cartilage: Haversian canals are channels containing blood vessels in compact bone, osteons are the repeating units of that bone, and trabeculae form the lattice framework of cancellous bone.

Chondrocytes reside in lacunae, which are tiny spaces embedded within the cartilaginous matrix. These pockets house the cells that produce and maintain the surrounding extracellular matrix, giving cartilage its characteristic resilience and flexibility. The other terms are structures associated with bone rather than cartilage: Haversian canals are channels containing blood vessels in compact bone, osteons are the repeating units of that bone, and trabeculae form the lattice framework of cancellous bone.