2 - Tissues Under Load Flashcards
What do I need to know?
- How they are classified
- Structure of collagens and PGs and how that structure underpins the mechanical properties of CTs
- Know CTs are responsive to changes in mechanical forces
- How the dermis of the skin is designed to withstand tension in multiple directions
- Tendons/ligaments withstand tension and what happens when they are damaged and exposed to compression
- How cartilage withstands compression and what happens when compressive forces are removed
- How bone withstands pressure, tension, torsion
What is the purpose of connective tissue?
Connective tissue provides mechanical support, a framework that enables the inflammatory response and so aids wound healing
The structure of CT predicts function and predicts the nature of the mechanical forces that act on the tissue
Many chronic diseases are of connective tissues
What are 2 differences between CT and the other 3 primary tissues?
- Nerve, muscle and epithelium (covers surfaces of other tissue) are CELLULAR tissues - large volume of cells with little space between them. CT has lots of ECM (98%) with a low volume of cells (2%) that are far apart
- Properties of the cellular tissues depends on the properties of the CYTOPLASM or cell membrane (i.e. the cells)
Properties of CT depend on the properties of the intercellular/extracellular materials
Normally the tissue types have discrete functions but sometimes they overlap. Give 3 examples.
Some CT cells can contract (myofibroblasts)
Muscle cells can conduct an electrical impulse
Epithelial, nerve and muscle cells can all produce ECM
What is connective tissue in the broadest sense?
CT is extracellular materials of fibres and cells embedded in a ground substance (soluble)
What does CT locations reflect?
Their mesenchymal origin - they are INSIDE the body not surfaces (except joint cavity)
What are the types of fibrous CT?
Loose - papillary layer of dermis, lamina propria
Dense > irregular; reticular layer of dermis
> regular; tendons, ligaments
Types of cartilage?
Fibrocartilage - menisci, intervertebral discs
Elastic - kina of ear, epiglottis
Hyaline - articular
Contents of CT?
Cells and extracellular matrix
-Cells = chondrocytes, osteocytes, fibroblasts (related and similar and change to each other depending on mechanical forces)
- Extracellular Materials
1. Fibres > collagen, elastin
2. Matrix > proteoglycans (glue)
3. Glycoproteins > linking units
4. Tissue Fluid
5. Hydroxyapatite
3 examples of glycoproteins
Fibronectin, osteonectin, laminin
Examples of proteoglycans
Aggrecan, versecan, biglycan, decorin, hyaluronan (no proteo part)
How can you predict what mechanical forces are acting on a tissue?
By the type, amounts and arrangements of the tissue composition/components. I.e. high collagen and PG = compression. High collagen low PG = tension
What happens if CTs change environment?
CTs are responsive to the mechanical environment and will remodel if this changes. This means their classifications aren’t discrete but range of intermediate phenotypes i.e. compression at right angles to a tendon will change it to fibrocartilage
What are the layers of the skin/cutis and briefly describe them?
Epidermis > 5 cellular layers
Papillary layer > hydrated
Reticular layer > 3D basket weave of collagen/elastin(lose with age)/fibroblasts that provides the most strength to skin when under load
Hypodermis/subcutaneous layer > adipose cells (insulation and padding)
Investing fascia > second skin of a sheet of collagen
The skin itself is the epidermis and dermis
What are the 5 layers of the epidermis?
Stratum Corneum (shed) Stratum Lucidum (clear) Stratum Granulosum Stratum Spinosum Stratum Germinativum
Basal Lamina (not epi)
What is between the epidermis and the dermis?
- basal lamina
- hemidesmosomes
- dermal ridges and dermal papillary pegs
- epidermal papillary pegs