NOTHING
Cartilage pads serve to cushion and support joints in the body, helping to reduce friction and absorb shock during movements. They also aid in distributing forces evenly across the joint surface, providing stability and facilitating smooth joint motion.
"disks"
Fat pads serve several important functions in the body, primarily providing cushioning and protection to underlying structures, such as bones and joints. They also play a role in energy storage, acting as reservoirs of fat that can be metabolized when needed. Additionally, fat pads help to maintain the shape and contour of various body parts, contributing to overall body aesthetics and function.
the fleshy pads of cartilage between the vertebrae
For elephants? It's to cushion so that there is less strain on the bones, tendons and muscles. They're heavyweights.
Cartilage keeps bronchi open
Orangutans have fat pads for the same reason people have fat pads. To help keep us warm and to insulate our bones and organs from danger and injuries.
Discs are pads of fiber and cartilage that contain rubbery tissue
Articular cartilage
I should think not, fat and cartilage are entirely different body matter. Fat tissue might surround the cartilage present in our body, but they wouldn't be part of the cartilage. Moreover, cartilage is usually found joint areas or at places such our nose and ear areas, both of which do not contain much fat- fats wouldn't be found close to our bone area because usually it would be muscle that is wrapped around our bones, not fat (referring to joint areas), and our ear and nose areas are mainly made up of cartilage and skin (though of course our nose comprises of bone as well).
The function of cartilage in the bronchus is to hold the soft tissue open so that air may pass through. The cartilage in the bronchus are C-shaped rings.