In cartilage development, which zone contains chondroblasts?

In cartilage development, which zone contains chondroblasts?

• A. Territorial Zone
• B. Interstitial Zone
• C. Chondrogenic Zone
• D. Interterritorial Zone

Answer: (C)

During cartilage formation, the place where precursor cells differentiate into cartilage-forming cells is the chondrogenic zone. In this zone, mesenchymal cells condense and become chondroblasts, the active matrix-producing cells. Chondroblasts secrete the cartilage matrix and, as they lay it down, they become embedded in it and mature into chondrocytes within lacunae. The terms territorial and interterritorial describe the matrix around the cells rather than the site of cell differentiation: territorial matrix is the immediate rim around a lacunated chondrocyte, rich in sulfated proteoglycans, while interterritorial matrix lies between lacunae. The interstitial zone is not the region where chondroblasts arise. So, the zone dedicated to forming chondroblasts is the chondrogenic zone.

During cartilage formation, the place where precursor cells differentiate into cartilage-forming cells is the chondrogenic zone. In this zone, mesenchymal cells condense and become chondroblasts, the active matrix-producing cells. Chondroblasts secrete the cartilage matrix and, as they lay it down, they become embedded in it and mature into chondrocytes within lacunae. The terms territorial and interterritorial describe the matrix around the cells rather than the site of cell differentiation: territorial matrix is the immediate rim around a lacunated chondrocyte, rich in sulfated proteoglycans, while interterritorial matrix lies between lacunae. The interstitial zone is not the region where chondroblasts arise. So, the zone dedicated to forming chondroblasts is the chondrogenic zone.