Appositional Growth is the type of cartilage growth in which
1. stem cells at the internal edge of the perichondrium divide, differentiate
into chondrocytes, and create new cartilage periphery.
To add, the process of appositional growth occurs when the cartilage model also grows in thickness
due to the addition of more extracellular matrix on the peripheral cartilage
surface. The following are the next steps in appositional growth.
2. The committed cells differentiate into chondroblasts.
3. These chondroblasts, located at the periphery of the old
cartilage, begin to produce and secrete new cartilage matrix. As a result, they
push apart and become chrondrocytes, each occupying its own lacuna.
4. The new matrix has been produced peripherally, and thus
appositional growth has occurred.
