Cartilage: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'cartilago', which means 'gristle' or 'supportive tissue'.
• Historically, it has been associated with the ability to provide structure while remaining flexible.

Health & Biology

• Cartilage is crucial in joints where it covers the ends of bones to prevent them from grinding against each other.
• Unlike bone, cartilage doesn't heal quickly or well when injured due to its limited blood supply.
• There are different types of cartilage: hyaline (like in joints), elastic (found in ears), and fibrocartilage (in intervertebral discs).

Sports Medicine

• Athletes often face injuries related to cartilage damage, which can lead to conditions like osteoarthritis as they age.
• In recent years, regenerative medicine has explored ways to repair or replace damaged cartilage to help athletes recover.

Comparative Anatomy

• Many animals have cartilage instead of bone as their primary skeletal material, like sharks and rays, allowing them to be lighter and more flexible.
• Fishes have a skeleton made entirely of cartilage, which is why they can swim so efficiently.

Cultural References

• In some cultures, the consumption of cartilage-rich dishes is believed to have health benefits, especially for joint health.
• Certain cartoons and animations anthropomorphize characters with flexible bodies to mimic how cartilage works—showing how it allows for freedom of movement.

Position #9,544 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

• ...
• 9541 trunks
• 9542 sorting
• 9543 commonwealth
• 9544 cartilage
• 9545 musician
• 9546 irrational
• 9547 catalytic
• ...