Cell Biology of Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

Connective tissue is composed of […] and […]

A

Cells

Extracellular Matrix

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2
Q
  • What does the ECM of connective tissue consist of?
  • What is its function?
A
  • Fibrous tissue; Collagen; Glycosylated Proteins
  • Provide structure and information abut mechanical environment and intracellular environment
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3
Q

Connective tissue is derived from embryonic […]

A

Mesoderm

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4
Q

The ratio of matrix to cells in connective tissue is […]

A

High

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5
Q

What are the fibers found in extracellular matrix of connective tissue?

A

Collagen

Elastic fibers

Reticular fibers

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6
Q
A
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7
Q

What is the function of connective tissue?

A

To provide mechanical and structural support by interaction of matrix with cells and organs

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8
Q

What tissues are considered “specialized connective tissue”?

A
  • Tendons and ligaments
  • Bone
  • Cartilage
  • Blood
  • Hematopoetic tissue
  • Adipose tissue
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9
Q

What is the function of osteoblasts?

A
  • Synthesize and secrete ECM (osteoid) which contains collagen and noncollagenous proteins
  • Express alkaline phosphatase and mineralize osteoid via matrix vesicles
  • Regulates bone turnover
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10
Q
A
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11
Q

This is an image of the basic multicellular unit. Label all the indicated structures.

A
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12
Q

What does collagen contribute to the material properties of bone?

A
  • Tensile strength
  • Bone fracture resistance
  • Allows cartilage to recover from compressive forces when loaded
  • Allows tendons to resist tensile forces and transmits energy from muscle to bone
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13
Q
  • What is P1NP?
  • What does its serum level reflect?
A
  • Collagen is produced in stages, and its precursor protein has a short signal sequence in the N-terminus region that is removed by proteinases. This is P1NP.
  • Because it represents a piece of newly made collagen, this is a marker of synthesis of collagen and bone formation
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14
Q

What effect does cross-linking the hydroxyl residues on collagen have on its mechanical properties?

A

Increases strength of collagen network and increases toughness (resistance to fracture) of bone

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15
Q

What are NTX and CTX?

A

These are fragments of type 1 collagen and they are used clinically to measure the rates of bone resorption

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16
Q

What enzyme is responsible for crosslinking hydroxyl groups on collagen fibrils?

A

Lysyl oxidase

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17
Q

Describe the arrangement of collagen fibres in bone.

A

Parallel in the same plane but perpindicular in adjacent planes, like a sheet of plywood. This makes bones more able to accomodate different types of external forces.

18
Q

What does the mineral phase of bone contribute to the mechanical properties of bone?

A

Compressive strength

19
Q

What is alkaline phosphatase?

A

Alkaline phosphatase is an ubiquitous membrane-bound glycoprotein that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphate monoesters at basic pH values. This phosphate that is liberated can then be used to produce hydroxyapatite.

20
Q
  • What disease results when there is a mutation in tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (Liver, kidney and bone ALP)?
  • What is the treatment?
A
  • There is insufficient phosphate for mineralization of the skeleton so children born with this mutation will have an unmineralized skeleton.
  • This used to be a death sentence, but a TNAP replacement enzyme exists called Strensiq that can be administered to mineralize their skeleton
21
Q

Bone has high […] strength but poor […] strength

A

Compressive

Tensile

22
Q

The collagen in bone makes it more […] and have a […] elastic modulus and the intrafibrillar cross-linking contributes to […] by […] rather than fracturing

A

Elastic

Lower

Toughness

Deforming

23
Q

The mineral content of bone makes it […] and have a […] elastic modulus. Bone strength and toughness are […] correlated to bone mineral content. When bone becomes too highly mineralized it can become […].

A

Stronger

Higher (more stiff)

Positively

Brittle

24
Q

How can you estimate toughness by looking at a stress strain curve?

A

Area under the curve

25
Q

What changes occur in the mineral and collagen of bone due to aging and osteoporosis?

A
  • Loss of mineralized bone –> decreased strength and stiffness
  • Decreased collagen content and cross-linking –> decreased resistance to fracture and elastic properties
26
Q
  • What is osteogenesis imperfecta?
  • What effect does this disease have on the mechanical properties of bone?
A
  • Mutation in type 1 collagen that results in abnormal cross-linking and as a result abnormal template for bone mineralization
  • Bone has lower stiffness due to lack of elasticity from collagen and improper mineralization –> more brittle
  • Unable to resist deformation
  • Deficient toughness because collagen cross-links are not mature so there is low fracture resistance and high crack propogation
27
Q

Bone that is […] from the neutral axis at the center of the bone contributes most to its bending strength.

A

Farthest

28
Q

A bone’s bending strength is proportional to the […] of its distance from the neutral axis

A

Fourth power (i.e. radius4)

29
Q

Boys develop a larger periosteal perimeter than girls from mid-puberty. Who has stronger bones?

A

Boys

30
Q

Girls have less periosteal bone growth and more endosteal bone growth. Does this give girls an advantage or disadvantage?

A

Disadvantage - cortical bone will be closer to neutral axis of long bone and less resistant to bending

31
Q

[…] is the primary proteoglycan of cartilage

[…] and […] are the primary GAGs of cartilage

A

Aggrecan

Chondroitin sulfate and keratin sulfate

32
Q

Do chondrocytes express ALP?

A

Some do - there are chondrocytes in transitional zones or in calcified regions of cartilage that express ALP in order to mineralize the cartilage to bone

33
Q
A
34
Q

The […] defines the biomechanical properties of cartilage

A

Extracellular matrix

35
Q

What gives cartilage its compressive strength?

A

Negatively charged and hydrated molecules (water)

36
Q

What allows cartilage to deform in response to load?

A

Solid matrix of proteoglycans and collagen

37
Q

What part of collagen reduces stress at the boundary of the collagen with bone?

A

The presence of mineral in the zone of transitional tissue

38
Q

Which is stronger - tendons or ligaments?

A

Tendons

39
Q

Where are fibrochondrocytes found?

A

At insertions sites of tendons to bones

40
Q

Fibrochondrocytes

  • […] differentiated
  • Location?
  • What do they secrete?
  • What important protein and unique do they express?
A
  • Terminally
  • Sparsely located in lacunae between type 2 collagen fibrils
  • ECM
  • ALP
41
Q

What is a tenocyte?

A

Fibroblast like cell found in rows between collagen fibrils (type of fibrochondrocyte)

42
Q

What is an enthesis?

A

When a tendon directly inserts into the periosteum of the metaphysis or diaphysis. Composed of dense fibrous tissue.