Which structure surrounds most cartilage and contains blood vessels that supply nutrients to cartilage?

Which structure surrounds most cartilage and contains blood vessels that supply nutrients to cartilage?

• A. Endosteum
• B. Perichondrium
• C. Periosteum
• D. Perineurium

Answer: (B)

The nourishing source for cartilage is the perichondrium. Cartilage itself has no blood vessels, so nutrients reach it by diffusion from vessels in the surrounding perichondrium. This structure wraps most cartilage and provides the vascular supply through its outer fibrous layer, with the inner chondrogenic layer helping with growth. Some cartilage, like articular cartilage, lacks a perichondrium and relies on diffusion from synovial fluid instead. The other structures—endosteum, periosteum, and perineurium—are tied to bone or nerve tissue and do not surround cartilage with a vascular supply.

The nourishing source for cartilage is the perichondrium. Cartilage itself has no blood vessels, so nutrients reach it by diffusion from vessels in the surrounding perichondrium. This structure wraps most cartilage and provides the vascular supply through its outer fibrous layer, with the inner chondrogenic layer helping with growth. Some cartilage, like articular cartilage, lacks a perichondrium and relies on diffusion from synovial fluid instead. The other structures—endosteum, periosteum, and perineurium—are tied to bone or nerve tissue and do not surround cartilage with a vascular supply.