Final answer:
Hyaline cartilage is the most common type of cartilage in the body and helps reduce friction and absorb shocks in joints. Fibrocartilage provides strength and is found in structures like knee menisci, while elastic cartilage offers elasticity in parts like the ear lobes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gold standard for cartilage, menisci, tendons, ligaments, or any joint in the body is typically referred to the type of cartilage and connective tissues that these structures are comprised of. Hyaline cartilage is the most common type of cartilage found in the body and plays a critical role in joint function.
It consists of short and dispersed collagen fibers embedded in a proteoglycan-rich matrix, providing a smooth surface for bone movement at joints. Hyaline cartilage reduces friction and serves as a shock absorber in movable joints, such as the knee and shoulder. It also exists in the rib cage and nose and remains as a template for the embryonic skeleton before bone formation.
Fibrocartilage is identified by its thick bundles of collagen fibers, providing strength and toughness to structures like the menisci in the knee joint and the intervertebral discs. Elastic cartilage, with its elastic fibers, grants flexibility and support, as seen in the structure of the ear lobes and parts of the larynx.
When discussing the meniscus, specifically, we refer to the lateral meniscus and medial meniscus, which are C-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage that act as articular discs providing stability and cushioning to the knee joint.