Which type of cartilage is the most common and covers most articular surfaces of bone?

• A. Fibrocartilage
• B. Elastic cartilage
• C. Hyaline cartilage
• D. Costal cartilage

Answer: (C)

Hyaline cartilage is the cartilage that lines nearly all joint surfaces, providing a smooth, low-friction surface that evenly distributes loads across the articulating ends of bones. It’s a matrix rich in type II collagen and proteoglycans, with chondrocytes living in lacunae, giving a glassy, resilient texture that tolerates compression without deforming excessively. Articular cartilage is avascular and lacks a perichondrium, which helps explain why it heals slowly after injury but also why its surface remains exceptionally smooth for joint movement. In contrast, fibrocartilage is tougher and found in places like the menisci and intervertebral discs; elastic cartilage provides flexibility in structures like the ear and epiglottis; and costal cartilage is hyaline in nature but serves a different role in the ribs rather than covering joint surfaces. Thus, the most common cartilage type that covers articular surfaces is hyaline cartilage.