Which type of cartilage has a higher fiber density than hyaline cartilage and can withstand greater tensile stresses?

Fibrocartilage is the type of cartilage that has a higher fiber density compared to hyaline cartilage, which allows it to withstand greater tensile stresses. This characteristic is due to the composition of fibrocartilage, which contains a dense network of collagen fibers that provide strength and resilience. It is commonly found in areas that require support and resistance to compression and tensile forces, such as intervertebral discs, the pubic symphysis, and menisci of the knee.

In contrast, while elastic cartilage is flexible and maintains shape, its structure is not as dense in fibers and does not provide the same level of tensile strength as fibrocartilage. Similarly, hyaline cartilage, although it acts as a smooth surface for joint movement and provides support, lacks the collagen density that contributes to tensile strength, making it more suitable for resisting compressive forces rather than tensile stresses. Articular cartilage, a specific form of hyaline cartilage, serves its own unique function in joints but does not possess the fibrous structure that permits the same tensile strength as fibrocartilage.