The small space that houses a cartilage cell within the matrix is called what?

The small space that houses a cartilage cell within the matrix is called what?

• A. Chondroblast
• B. Lacuna
• C. Chondrocyte
• D. Matrix

Answer: (B)

Cartilage cells (chondrocytes) live inside tiny cavities within the surrounding gel-like material. These small spaces are called lacunae. A chondroblast is an immature cartilage cell that sits in the perichondrium and helps build the matrix, while once it becomes embedded in the matrix it becomes a chondrocyte. The matrix is the extracellular substance around the cells, not the space itself. So the correct term for the space that houses a cartilage cell is lacuna.

Cartilage cells (chondrocytes) live inside tiny cavities within the surrounding gel-like material. These small spaces are called lacunae. A chondroblast is an immature cartilage cell that sits in the perichondrium and helps build the matrix, while once it becomes embedded in the matrix it becomes a chondrocyte. The matrix is the extracellular substance around the cells, not the space itself. So the correct term for the space that houses a cartilage cell is lacuna.