Variations in the Appearance of Human Elastic Cartilage

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1969-11

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Abstract

Cartilage from the external ear, epiglottis, and auditory tube from 22 adult human cadavers, ranging in age from 52 to 64 years, and from seven newborn infants was examined microscopically to ascertain any morphological differences in structure. All cartilages from the newborn infants were hyaline, showing evenly dispersed chondrocytes and lack of elastic fibers, with the exception of the epiglottic cartilage, which possessed a few such fibers at this stage. In adult cartilages, the presence or absence and location of young growing, mature, and/or calcined chondrocytes is described. All cartilages had a PAS-positive matrix. The distribution of elastic fibers is denned. The differences in adult human cartilages are summarized and lead us to suggest the term elastoid as the name for the cartilage of the auditory tube.

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Author Institution: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210

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The Ohio Journal of Science. v69 n6 (November, 1969), 366-371