Which type of cartilage is characteristically devoid of a perichondrium?

The correct answer is Articular cartilage.

- Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue composed of chondrocytes embedded in an extracellular matrix.
- There are three main types of cartilage: hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, and fibrocartilage.
- Each type has unique structural and functional characteristics, including the presence or absence of a perichondrium.

- Perichondrium is a dense layer of connective tissue that surrounds most cartilage types, providing support, nutrients, and a source of new chondroblasts for growth and repair.
- Elastic cartilage and hyaline cartilage (except for articular cartilage) typically have a perichondrium.
- Fibrocartilage, found in intervertebral discs and pubic symphysis, generally lacks a true perichondrium; instead, it transitions directly to dense connective tissue.
- However, the defining feature relevant to this question is that articular cartilage, a specialized form of hyaline cartilage found covering the ends of bones in synovial joints, is characteristically devoid of a perichondrium.

This absence is important because articular cartilage relies on synovial fluid for nutrition rather than vascular supply from a perichondrium. This feature contributes to its limited capacity for repair after injury.

In summary:
- Articular cartilage does not have a perichondrium.
- Other cartilage types such as elastic cartilage and hyaline cartilage of the trachea are surrounded by a perichondrium.
- Fibrocartilage lacks a typical perichondrium but is structurally distinct from articular cartilage.

Reference: Gray's Anatomy, 41st Edition, Volume 1, Chapter on Cartilage and Bone, Page 585-590