fibrocartilage

A tough cartilage with a matrix consisting of dense bundles of fibres. Intervertebral discs and menisci are made of fibrocartilage, which has great tensile strength and is able to absorb considerable loads. See also cartilage.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage made up of thick, compact collagenous bundles, separated by narrow clefts containing the typical cartilage cells (chondrocytes).

• f. embolic myelopathy — see fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy.
• middle phalangeal complementary f. — forms a bearing surface for the deep flexor tendon on the proximo-palmar surface of the bone in horses.
• parapatellar f. — medial extension of the patella.