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Chondrocyte
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<p>Chondrocytes are the only <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a> found in healthy <a href="/facts/Cartilage/vxy2qzKN">cartilage</a>. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of <a href="/facts/Collagen/KsyAb72K">collagen</a> and <a href="/facts/Proteoglycan/SFbGPK0R">proteoglycans</a>. Although the word <i><a href="/facts/Chondroblast/gLDlMNAz">chondroblast</a></i> is commonly used to describe an immature chondrocyte, the term is imprecise, since the progenitor of chondrocytes (which are <a href="/facts/Mesenchymal_stem_cells/W0jeK2a3">mesenchymal stem cells</a>) can differentiate into various cell types, including <a href="/facts/Osteoblast/N6mMDQvR">osteoblasts</a>. </p>