BL Connective Tissue Flashcards
What is connective tissue?
Tissue that supports, protects + connects other tissues and organs in the body
Made of cells, fibre + ground substance
What are the 3 components of connective tissue?
Cells
Fibres
Ground substance
What are the main cells in connective tissue?
Fibroblasts
Chondrocytes
Osteocytes/blasts/clasts
Stem cells
Adipocytes
Reticular cells - in lymphatic vessels
What are the 3 fibres in connective tissue?
Collagen
Elastin
Reticulin
What are the 3 groups of connective tissue?
Connective tissue proper
Fluid connective tissue
Supportive connecting tissue
What are types of connective tissue proper?
Loose
Dense
What are the types of fluid connective tissue?
Blood
Lymph
What are the types of supportive connecting tissue?
Cartilage
Bone
What is ground substance?
Gel containing protein glycoproteins, glycoaminoglycans, lipids + water
What is extracellular matrix?
Ground substance and fibres linked to form a complex network
Function of fibroblasts
Produce collagen + fibres of ground substance
Functions of connective tissue
- Binding + supporting
- Protection
- Insulating
- Storage - bone marrow + adipose
-
Transporting substances
Separation of tissue
What is the least specialised connective tissue in adults?
Loose/areolar connective tissue
What are the two types of dense connective tissue?
Describe each type
Irregular - fibres running in different direction
Regular - fibres running parallel to each other
Structure of loose connective tissue
- Cells - fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, adipocytes
- Fibres - collagenous + elastic
- Ground substance
Functions of loose connective tissue
- Holds vessels
- Permits cell migration
- Involved in inflammation pathways
- Packaging around organs
- Shock absorber
- Stabilises organs - surrounds all organs
What do mast cells contain?
Histamines - ^ blood vessel wall permeability
Heparin - anticoagulant
Cytokines - attract eosinophils and neutrophils
Function of histamines
Increase blood vessel wall permeability
What do mast cells look like?
Basophils
Many vesicles
What is a unilocular adipocytes?
A large single lipid droplet
Nucleus, cytoplasm + organelles all sequenced to one side of cell
Why do adipocytes appear white in H&E staining?
Xylene + toluene strip out the fats
Function of white adipose tissue
Padding
Shock absorber
Insulation
Energy reserve
What is a multilocular adipocyte?
Multiple small lipid drops
Nucleus, cytoplasm + organelle squeezed to centre of cell
Function of brown adipose tissue
Insulation
Energy reserve