What is a key characteristic of fibrocartilage compared to native hyaline cartilage?

• A. Higher resilience and durability
• B. Superior wear characteristics
• C. Inferior stiffness and wear properties
• D. Identical tensile strength

Answer: (C)

Fibrocartilage is distinct from native hyaline cartilage in several ways, particularly in terms of its structural properties and mechanical characteristics. A key characteristic that differentiates fibrocartilage from hyaline cartilage is its composition and response to mechanical stress. Fibrocartilage contains a higher concentration of collagen fibers, specifically type I collagen, which lends it greater tensile strength and resilience compared to hyaline cartilage, which primarily consists of type II collagen.

However, when engaging in weight-bearing activities or subjecting the cartilage to compressive forces, fibrocartilage demonstrates inferior stiffness compared to hyaline cartilage. As a result, its wear properties under repetitive stress or high-load conditions are also not as favorable. This leads to the understanding that although fibrocartilage performs well under certain types of loading, its overall stiffness and wear characteristics are less optimal than those of native hyaline cartilage, particularly in relation to its tensile properties.

Therefore, stating that fibrocartilage has inferior stiffness and wear properties compared to hyaline cartilage accurately captures these distinctions and highlights the functional differences between the two types of cartilage.