Which zone is indicated by the arrow in the growth plate histology?

Which zone is indicated by the arrow in the growth plate histology?

• A. Chondrogenic zone
• B. Territorial zone
• C. Interterritorial zone
• D. Hypertrophy zone

Answer: (C)

In cartilage, the area directly around each chondrocyte lacuna is called the territorial zone, which stains more darkly due to its high concentration of sulfated proteoglycans. The interterritorial zone is the matrix between neighboring lacunae and tends to stain lighter because it has relatively less dense proteoglycan content. If the arrow points to the lighter matrix between chondrocyte lacunae rather than the dark pericellular rim around a single cell, it marks the interterritorial zone. This distinction helps you read growth plate histology by recognizing how the extracellular matrix is organized around the cells, separate from the patterns of cell maturation in the proliferative or hypertrophic zones.

In cartilage, the area directly around each chondrocyte lacuna is called the territorial zone, which stains more darkly due to its high concentration of sulfated proteoglycans. The interterritorial zone is the matrix between neighboring lacunae and tends to stain lighter because it has relatively less dense proteoglycan content.

If the arrow points to the lighter matrix between chondrocyte lacunae rather than the dark pericellular rim around a single cell, it marks the interterritorial zone. This distinction helps you read growth plate histology by recognizing how the extracellular matrix is organized around the cells, separate from the patterns of cell maturation in the proliferative or hypertrophic zones.