cartilage development trait Any measurable or observable characteristic related to the morphology or physiology during formation and differentiation of the nonvascular, resilient, flexible connective tissue found primarily in joints, walls of the thorax, and tubular structures, but which also comprises most of the skeleton in early fetal life. Some aquatic vertebrates have skeletons comprised entirely of cartilage. Trait.ontology VT:0000164 connective tissue development trait