Final answer:
Articular cartilage is found at the ends of long bones and serves to reduce friction and cushion articulations. It is nourished through diffusion, as it is avascular.
Step-by-step explanation:
Articular cartilage is found at the ends of long bones and serves to reduce friction and cushion the articulations of these bones. It is a type of cartilage called hyaline cartilage, which consists of a matrix with cells called chondrocytes embedded in it. The chondrocytes exist in cavities in the matrix known as lacunae.
Articular cartilage is avascular and relies on diffusion for nourishment. Nutrients and oxygen from blood vessels in the surrounding synovial fluid diffuse through the matrix to reach the chondrocytes and support their metabolic needs.