Which cartilage has thick collagen fibers that give great tensile strength and is found in the menisci of the knee, intervertebral discs, and pubic symphysis?

• A. Fibrocartilage
• B. Hyaline Cartilage
• C. Elastic Cartilage
• D. Articular cartilage

Answer: (A)

Tensile strength from dense collagen is the hallmark here. Fibrocartilage contains thick bundles of collagen fibers, mainly type I, arranged in dense, interwoven patterns that resist pulling and tearing. This makes it excellent at withstanding the stresses of weight bearing and bending. That strength is precisely what you need in the knee’s menisci, the outer ring of intervertebral discs (annulus fibrosus), and the pubic symphysis, where tissues must endure heavy, multidirectional forces while providing stability.

In these locations, the fibrocartilage acts as a tough, shock-absorbing connective tissue with little to no perichondrium and limited vascularity, contributing to its durability and slower healing if damaged. By contrast, hyaline cartilage (found on joint surfaces) emphasizes a smooth, glassy surface with less tensile strength, elastic cartilage provides flexibility due to elastic fibers, and articular cartilage is a type of hyaline cartilage at joints.