Cartilage as the cricoid cartilage and carina. Cartilage is composed of specialized cells called chondrocytes that produce a large amount of collagenous extracellular matrix, abundant ground substance that is rich in proteoglycan and elastin fibers. Cartilage is classified in three types, "elastic cartilage", "hyaline cartilage" and "fibrocartilage", which differ in relative amounts of collagen and proteoglycan. Cartilage does not contain blood vessels (it is avascular) or nerves (it is aneural). Nutrition is supplied to the chondrocytes by diffusion. The compression of the articular cartilage or flexion of the elastic cartilage generates fluid flow, which assists diffusion of nutrients to the chondrocytes.
Mucopolysaccharide–cartilage complex Mucopolysaccharide–cartilage complex Mucopolysaccharide–cartilage complex (MCC) is a healing ointment derived from bovine trachea. It is a complex mixture containing naturally occurring biologically active substances present in living cartilage. John F. Prudden, discovered the clinical value of MCC in 1954, when he was an Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. As part of a study to reverse the negative effects of corticosteroids on wound healing, Dr. Prudden applied MCC powder to open wounds. The MCC accelerated wound healing and reduced inflammation of the surrounding tissues. A clinical trial of MCC in the treatment of inflammation and the