The outer layer of the perichondrium surrounding cartilage is composed of which connective tissue type?

The outer layer of the perichondrium surrounding cartilage is composed of which connective tissue type?

• A. Dense irregular connective tissue
• B. Dense regular connective tissue
• C. Elastic connective tissue
• D. Areolar connective tissue

Answer: (A)

The outer layer of the perichondrium is dense irregular connective tissue. This layer provides tensile strength in many directions, which is achieved by collagen fibers that are arranged in multiple orientations rather than in parallel. That irregular arrangement helps cartilage resist tearing when it experiences stresses from different directions. The inner layer, by contrast, is chondrogenic. Other options describe tissue types with fibers aligned in a single direction (dense regular), with a lot of elastic fibers (elastic connective tissue), or with loose,+sparse structure (areolar), which don’t fit the functional role of the perichondrium’s outer coating.

The outer layer of the perichondrium is dense irregular connective tissue. This layer provides tensile strength in many directions, which is achieved by collagen fibers that are arranged in multiple orientations rather than in parallel. That irregular arrangement helps cartilage resist tearing when it experiences stresses from different directions. The inner layer, by contrast, is chondrogenic. Other options describe tissue types with fibers aligned in a single direction (dense regular), with a lot of elastic fibers (elastic connective tissue), or with loose,+sparse structure (areolar), which don’t fit the functional role of the perichondrium’s outer coating.