Light microscopy of cartilage showing chondrocytes surrounded by the cartilage matrix that they synthesize and secrete. This is developing hyaline cartilage in which the young chondrocytes typically contain a high content of lipids seen as green-stained fat droplets. The pale halo-type region around the cells is an artefact of tissue preparation. The matrix has collagen, and proteoglycan molecules that attract and bind water. Cartilage is tough yet flexible and is reversibly resistant to compression. Magnification x 200 when printed at 10cm.