The root 'chondro-' in medical terms refers to which tissue?

• A. Bone
• B. Cartilage
• C. Muscle
• D. Nerve

Answer: (B)

Chondro- denotes cartilage tissue. This root appears in medical terms like chondrocyte (a cartilage cell) and chondromalacia (cartilage softening), signaling a relationship to cartilage. Cartilage is a flexible, supportive connective tissue found in joints to cushion movement, in the nose and ears, and in structures like the trachea. It’s avascular, relying on diffusion for nutrients, and its extracellular matrix is rich in type II collagen and proteoglycans. Other common roots point to different tissues—osteo- for bone, myo- for muscle, and neuro- for nerve—so chondro- specifically identifies cartilage.