2.2 Connective And Adipose Tissue

Question 1

Function of connective tissue? (6

Answer 1

1. Connecting
2. Transportation
3. Protection
4. Storage
5. Defence
6. Wound healing

Question 2

What are the components of Connective Tissue (3)

Answer 2

1. Cells
2. Extracellular matrix
   - Fibres - collagen, reticular, elastin
   - Ground substance

Question 3

Name the fibres in Connective Tissue

Answer 3

Collagen, Reticular, Elastin

Question 4

What is the ground substance made of?

Answer 4

1. Hyaluronan molecules
2. Made of proteoglycans
3. Made of glycosaminoglycans

Viscous, clear, water attracting gel like substance

Question 5

What is Loose Connective Tissue and where is it located?

Answer 5

Lots of cells, sparse collagen fibres, abundant ground substance

Located beneath epithelial in the dermis

Question 6

What is Dense Connective Tissue and where is it located?

Answer 6

Not many cells (main is fibroblast), lots of collagen fibres, very little ground substance

Question 7

What is an Aponeurosis?

Answer 7

Flat sheet of regular CT 90 degrees to adjacent layers

Question 8

List the wondering cells and fixed cells in connective tissue?

Answer 8

Wandering - leucocytes, plasma cells, macrophages

Fixed - fibroblasts, melanocytes, mast cells, adipocytes, mesenchymal stem cell

Question 9

What is a mesenchymal stem cell?

Answer 9

Able to develop into any type of connective tissue

Question 10

What is a fibroblast and what is its function?

Answer 10

1. Synthesis and secrete extracellular matrix (GS+fibres)

2. Important in wound healing and formation of scar tissue

Question 11

What is a mast cell and what is its function? (3)

Answer 11

1. Release histamine (increase blood vessel permeability)
2. Release heparin (anticoagulant)
3. Responds to allergens

Question 12

How is collagen produced? (4)

Answer 12

1. Fibroblasts secrete procollagen molecules
2. Pro collagen converted to collagen outside cell
3. Collagen molecules aggregate forming fibrils
4. Fibrils aggregate forming fibres

Question 13

Name of disease caused by abnormal type 1 collagen?

Answer 13

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Question 14

What are reticular fibres?

Answer 14

“Thin” collagen
Made of type 3 collagen
Forms a fine meshwork for support
E.g. Lymphnode

Question 15

What is Marfans syndrome?

Answer 15

Expression of fibrillin gene abnormal
Elastic tissue abnormal
People v. Tall, arachnodactyl, risk of aortic rupture

Question 16

What is white adipose tissue?

Answer 16

Unilocular - adipose cells filled with single fat droplet, nucleus on side.

Function - fuel reserve, insulation, shock absorption

Question 17

What is brown adipose tissue?

Answer 17

Multilocular - adipose cells filled with multiple lipid droplets and central nucleus.
Brown due to vast vascular supply and abundant mitochondria (heat generation)
Found near scapula, sternum, new born

Question 18

Two types of Dense CT?

Answer 18

1) regular
- collagen fibres arranged parallel and tightly packed
- withstand stress in a single direction
- e.g tendons, ligaments, apneurosis
2) irregular
- collagen fibres arranged in bundles orientated in different directions
- withstand stress in multiple direction
- submucosa of intestine, deep layers of dermis

Question 19

Functions of collagen, reticular and elastin fibres.

Answer 19

1. Collagen - high tensile strength
2. Reticular - supporting framework
3. Elastin - recoil after distension