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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Mater. 2020 Jul 20;5(10):730–747. doi: 10.1038/s41578-020-0213-1

Figure 4. Collagen structure and location in cartilage, and its role in cartilage development.

Figure 4.

a ∣ Heterofibrils of different collagen types compose the structure of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM). Hyaline and fibrocartilage ECMs are shown as examples. b ∣ The location of different collagen types in hyaline cartilage ECM. Many other ECM molecules are present but not shown. c ∣ Different collagens are involved in the process of cartilage formation during embryonic development. Collagen type I is expressed by mesenchymal stem cells. Collagen type VI accumulates during condensation, and is then replaced by collagen type II and minor collagens as the cells differentiate and deposit chondrogenic ECM. GAGs, glycosaminoglycans.