The perichondrium is a thin layer of connective tissue that protects cartilage in the human body. It generally facilitates blood flow, helps bones grow, and protects cartilage from trauma or damage. As a protective tissue, it has the ability to produce new cartilage cells. If trauma has occurred, it then produces chondrocytes, chondroblasts, and chondrogenes, which all help form new cartilage cells. Tiny blood vessels inside the perichondrium provide nutrients to the cartilage, which demonstrates its importance to the functionality of cartilage.

Cauliflower ear is damage sustained by the perichondrium. Boxers, wrestlers, and other grappling athletes are susceptible to blows to the ear. A hard punch can cause a blood clot and additional fluids to form underneath the cartilage. Such a blood clot can separate the cartilage. Since it is responsible for nourishing cartilage, the cartilage will die if separated from the perichondrium.

The body then forms a tough shell of tissue around the skin of the ear. As a result, the ear puffs up, swells, and begins to resemble a cauliflower. To treat cauliflower ear, a doctor typically will drain the fluids and then ask the patient to wear a compressing tie around the ear. The tie then helps the cartilage to reconnect until healed.

Other areas of the body where perichondrium and cartilage are associated include the trachea in the throat. Also, it can be found in conjunction with the cartilage that joins the ribs to the sternum. Copious amounts of it help protect key areas in the back, as well.

There is a difference between the perichondrium and the periosteum. While the perichondrium protects cartilage, the periosteum protects bone. They do resemble one another: they are both essentially thin connective tissue. The periosteum produces osteoblasts, which nourish bones and help them grow. In fetal development, the formation of blood vessels inside the perichondrium basically changes it into periosteum, which then produces nutrients necessary for bone growth.