Fibrocartilage is especially strong due to what feature?

Fibrocartilage is especially strong due to what feature?

• A. Thick collagen fibers
• B. Abundant elastic fibers
• C. High mineral content
• D. Nerve supply

Answer: (A)

Fibrocartilage is built to withstand heavy loads by having thick bundles of collagen fibers, mainly type I collagen, running through it. These dense collagen fibers provide high tensile strength and help resist tearing when the tissue is subjected to compression and shear, which is why fibrocartilage is found in high-stress areas like the intervertebral discs, knee menisci, and the pubic symphysis. Elastic fibers would make tissue more stretchy rather than strong, so abundance of elastic fibers isn’t what gives fibrocartilage its toughness. High mineral content is characteristic of bone, not cartilage, and nerve supply isn’t related to the tissue’s mechanical strength. The dense collagen network is what makes fibrocartilage especially strong.

Fibrocartilage is built to withstand heavy loads by having thick bundles of collagen fibers, mainly type I collagen, running through it. These dense collagen fibers provide high tensile strength and help resist tearing when the tissue is subjected to compression and shear, which is why fibrocartilage is found in high-stress areas like the intervertebral discs, knee menisci, and the pubic symphysis. Elastic fibers would make tissue more stretchy rather than strong, so abundance of elastic fibers isn’t what gives fibrocartilage its toughness. High mineral content is characteristic of bone, not cartilage, and nerve supply isn’t related to the tissue’s mechanical strength. The dense collagen network is what makes fibrocartilage especially strong.