Figure 3

Fibrocartilage in the transverse ligament of atlas in silver fox. Longitudinal sections of the ligament from the enthesis are stained with toluidine blue and visualised under different magnifications (a, b). Chondrocytes are found either individually (ch) or in isogenic groups (ig), between thick, parallel bundles of dense collagen, typical of periosteal fibrocartilage. Transverse sections of the central part of the transverse ligament of atlas were stained with Sirius red (c, d). Under lower magnification (c) peripheral localisation of fibrocartilage can be observed. Under higher magnification (d) individual chondrocytes (ch) can be seen between collagen bundles, characteristic for sesamoid fibrocartilage.