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How does the healing process of cartilage compare to that of bone?
Cartilage heals faster than bone
Bone heals faster than cartilage
They heal at the same rate
Cartilage does not heal
The correct answer is: Bone heals faster than cartilage
The healing process of cartilage is notably slower than that of bone due to the inherent differences in their biological structures and compositions. Bone has a rich blood supply and a higher cellular turnover, which aids in delivering essential nutrients and cells involved in the healing process. This vascularity enables quicker disease response and repair, allowing bone to heal more rapidly after an injury or fracture. In contrast, cartilage is avascular, meaning it does not have a direct blood supply. The cells in cartilage, known as chondrocytes, have limited ability to proliferate, and the extracellular matrix has a much slower turnover rate. This limited cellular response and lack of blood supply contribute to the longer healing time associated with cartilage repair. Therefore, it is accurate to state that bone heals faster than cartilage due to these fundamental differences in their biological characteristics.