At the end of week 8 of development, the perichondrium surrounding the diaphysis is invaded by blood vessels and becomes a component of bone-forming <u>Periosteum.</u>
The perichondrium functions in growth and repair of cartilage. It resists outward expansion when cartilage is subjected to pressure. The perichondrium is a dense layer of fibrous connective tissue that covers cartilage in various parts of the body. Perichondrium tissue commonly covers these areas: elastic cartilage in parts of the ear, nose and hyaline cartilage in the larynx. This means that the bone can only grow in length, not width. The epiphyses are pushed away from each other. After the chondrocytes have undergone hypertrophy, they die.
