Cartilage. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of a section through cartilage tissue. Cartilage is a flexible but strong supportive connective tissue. Unlike bone and all other connective tissue types, it is avascular, lacking blood vessels. Cartilage contains chondrocyte cells that produce and maintain the cartilage matrix, which mainly consists of collagen and proteoglycan fibres. Magnification: x670 when printed 10 centimetres wide.