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True or False: Cartilage has little to no blood flow

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Final answer:

Cartilage has little to no blood flow, leading to slower healing when injured compared to bones, which have a good blood supply and heal faster. Most bones initially consist of cartilage in babies, which is later replaced by bone through a process known as endochondral ossification.

Step-by-step explanation:

True, cartilage does have little to no blood flow. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that is avascular, meaning it lacks blood vessels. This attribute leads to slower healing processes for injuries to cartilage, like hyaline cartilage, compared to bone fractures. While bone tissue contains blood vessels that allow for the transportation of nutrients and waste, which aids in faster healing, cartilage relies on diffusion from nearby tissues for nutrient and waste exchange. Most bones are made primarily of cartilage at birth, undergoing a process called endochondral ossification, where the cartilage is progressively replaced by bone over time.

A broken bone, also known as a bone fracture, is a term referring to any kind of break or discontinuity in the bone tissue. Given that bone is a living tissue, it actively participates in metabolic processes and can affect various functions throughout the body. However, bone cells do not have the capability to contract and induce muscle movement; rather, muscle tissue is responsible for contractions that facilitate movement.

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