This image shows the fibrocartilage that is often located at the point where
a tendon inserts into a bone. Note the boundary between the darker stained
bone matrix to the left and the lighter
staining fibrocartilage matrix on the
right. The fibrocartilage is similar in appearance to dense, regular connective
tissue, except that the cells (chondrocytes)
occupy lacunae. As a result, they remain
rounded, in contrast to the fibroblasts in the tendon, which are flattened
between the layers of collagen fibers.
Although the collagen fibers are not clearly seen, the organization of the
lacunae into parallel rows shows the presence of the parallel bundles of collagen
fibers, which are continuous with the collagen fiber bundles that make up
the tendon.
