Hyaline cartilage. Light micrograph (LM) of cartilage from a human rib (costal hyaline cartilage). Hyaline cartilage is a pliable, hard connective tissue, consisting of cells lying within a matrix they have produced. Small chondroblasts (dense purple units) develop to form larger groups of chondrocyte cells. Each cell or cell group is surrounded by a clear region, the lacuna. The matrix consists of fibres of collagen mixed with an acidic polysaccharide, a combination which gives this cartilage its resilient physical qualities. Haematoxylin stain. Magnification: x25 at 35 milimeters size