The cartilage cell
Chondrocytes
Chondrocytes are the only cells in cartilage. Each sits alone in a small pocket of the matrix it built around itself.
What it is
Cartilage is a tissue with no blood vessels and no nerves running through it, made almost entirely of matrix. Chondrocytes are the sparse population of cells that produce and maintain that matrix, each sitting in a small cavity called a lacuna.
Having no blood supply, chondrocytes are fed by diffusion — nutrients seep through the matrix from surrounding tissue. That is slow, and it is why cartilage is among the slowest tissues in the body to recover from disturbance.
What it does in the body
A chondrocyte secretes two things that together give cartilage its mechanical character. Type II collagen forms a fibrous mesh that provides tensile strength. Proteoglycans — large molecules with a powerful affinity for water — are trapped inside that mesh.
The proteoglycans pull water in and the collagen mesh stops the tissue swelling apart, so the matrix is held under internal pressure. Load a joint and water is squeezed outwards; unload it and water is drawn back. That is how cartilage cushions.
Chondrocytes also slowly turn the matrix over, breaking down and replacing its components to maintain it.
Where RediCell’s come from
Differentiated from umbilical cord tissue, expanded no further than passage two.
What RediCell supplies from this line
Listed for reference only. Cell counts, particle counts and fill volumes are the specification; pricing is not published here and ordering is restricted to verified practitioners and institutions.
| Code | Preparation | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| RC-CTG-10 | Chondrocytes (Cartilage Cells) | 10M cells / 2 ml vial |
| RC-CTG-25 | Chondrocytes (Cartilage Cells) | 25M cells / 5 ml vial |
| RC-EX-Cg1 | Chondrocyte (Cartilage) Exosome Matrix w/ growth factors | 330B+ exosomes / 3 ml vial |