Chondrocytes (< Greek chondros cartilage + kytos cell) are the only cells found in cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilagenous matrix. Cartilage is a type of dense connective tissue. ...

From least- to terminally-differentiated, the chondrocytic lineage is:

1. Colony-forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F)
2. Mesenchymal stem cell / marrow stromal cell (MSC)
3. Chondrocyte
4. Hypertrophic chondrocyte

When referring to bone or cartilage, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are commonly known as osteochondrogenic (or osteogenic, chondrogenic, osteoprogenitor, etc.) cells since a single MSC has shown the ability to differentiate into chondrocytes or osteoblasts, depending on the medium. In vivo, differentiation of a MSC in a vascularized area (such as bone) yields an osteoblasts, whereas differentiation of a MSC in a non-vascularized area (such as cartilage) yields a chondrocyte. Chondrocytes undergo terminal differentiation when they become hypertrophic during endochondral ossification. This last stage is characterized by major phenotypic changes in the cell. Mesenchymal cells also known as mesenchymal stem cells or marrow stromal cells (MSC) are stem cells that can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, adipocytes neuronal cells and - as decribed lately, into beta-pancreatic islets cells. ... An osteoblast (from the Greek words for bone and to build) is a mononucleate cell which produces a protein that produces osteoid. ... An osteoblast (from the Greek words for bone and to build) is a mononucleate cell which produces a protein that produces osteoid. ... Ossify (< Latin os bone + Latin fy < facere make) to change (as cartilage) or be transformed into bone, for example, osteoblasts ossify the tissue ... The phenotype of an individual organism is either its total physical appearance and constitution, or a specific manifestation of a trait, such as size or eye color, that varies between individuals. ...

Although Chondroblast is still commonly used to describe an immature chondrocyte, use of the term is discouraged, for it is technically inaccurate, since the progenitor of chondrocytes (which are mesenchymal stem cells) can also differentiate into osteoblasts. An osteoblast (from the Greek words for bone and to build) is a mononucleate cell which produces a protein that produces osteoid. ...

References

• Bone marrow mesenchymal cells: biological properties and clinical applications. PMID: 11388742
• Bone marrow stromal stem cells: nature, biology, and potential applications. PMID: 11359943
• Stem cell information