Ch 3- Connective Tissue Flashcards
What are the 3 basic components of connective tissues?
- Specialized cells
- Protein fibers
- Ground substance
*2&3 make up the Matrix that surrounds the cells
What are the functions of connective tissues?
- Protection
- Organs and from microorganisms - Support- establish a structural framework for the body
- Connect tissues and structures
- Transport route
- Energy storage
What are the categories of connective tissue?
- Connective tissue proper
- Fluid connective tissue
- Supporting connective tissue
What are the types of connective tissue proper fibers?
- Collagen
- Reticular
- Elastic
What are the two types of connective tissue proper?
- Loose
- Dense
What are the two types of fluid connective tissue?
- Blood
- Lymph
What are the two types of supporting connective tissue?
- Cartilage
- Bone
What kind of matrix do connective tissue proper have?
Syrupy matrix
What kind of matrix do fluid connective tissue have?
Watery matrix
What kind of matrix do supporting connective tissue have?
Gel or solid matrix
What are the two types of cells connective tissue proper have?
- Fixed cells
- Wandering cells
Which cells are fixed cells?
- Fibroblast- produce connective tissue fibers
- Fibrocyte- maintain connective tissue fibers and matrix
- Adipocyte- store lipid reserves
- Fixed macrophage- phagocytize pathogens and damaged cells
- Mesenchymal- connective tissue stem cells that can differentiate into other cell types
Which cells are wandering cells?
- Free macrophage- mobile/traveling phagocytic cells
- Mast cell- stimulates local inflammation
- Lymphocyte- participate in immune response
What is a fibroblast?
Most abundant; only cells always present; produce all connective tissue fibers; manufactures and secretes protein subunits that interact to form large extra cellular fibers and make the ground substance viscous
What is a fibrocyte?
Second most abundant fixed cell in CT proper; maintain the CT fibers of CT proper; if CT is injured it has the abilities to differentiate back into fibroblast that help repair the damaged tissue
What is an adipocyte?
Contain a single lipid droplet that occupies almost the entire cell, squeezing the nucleus and organelles to one side; # of adipocytes varies according to the type of CT, the region of the body, and the individual
What is a fixed macrophage?
Large, amoebic cells scattered among the CT fibers; they engulf damaged cells, dead cells, and pathogens that enter the tissue; when stimulated they release chemicals that attract wandering cells involved in the body’s defense mechanisms
What are mesenchymal cells?
These cells respond to local injury or infection by dividing to produce daughter cells that differentiate into fibroblasts, macrophages, or other connective tissue cells
What are free macrophages?
Mobile/ traveling phagocytic cells (derived from monocytes of the blood)
What are mast cells?
- Small, mobile connective tissue cells that are found near blood vessels
- The cytoplasm is filled with secretory granules of histamine and heparin=> these chemicals are released after injury or infection and stimulate local inflammation
What are lymphocytes?
- Multiply wherever tissue damage occurs and some then develop into plasma cells
- Plasma cells produce antibodies, proteins that help defend the body against disease
Which connective tissue proper fiber is the strongest and most common?
Collagen
What type of fiber do tendons consist of? What do tendons connect?
- Almost entirely of collagen fibers
- Connect skeletal muscles to bones
What type of fiber do ligaments consist of? What do ligaments connect?
- Almost entirely of collagen fibers
- Connect bone to bone, bone to cartilage, or cartilage to cartilage
What are Loose connective tissues?
The “packing material” of the body
- Fill spaces between organs, provide cushioning, and support epithelia
What are the three types of Loose connective tissues?
- Areolar
- Adipose
- Reticular
Where is Areolar tissue located?
- Within and deep to the dermis of skin and covered by the epithelial of the digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts
- Between muscles
- Around blood vessels, nerves, and joints
What are the functions of Areolar tissue?
- Cushions organs
- Provides support but permits independent movement
- Phagocytic cells provide defense against pathogens
Where can Adipose tissue be located?
- Deep to the skin, especially at sides, buttocks, and breasts
- Padding around eyes and kidneys
What are the functions of Adipose tissue?
- Provides padding and cushions shocks
- Insulates (reduces heat loss)
- Stores energy
Where is reticular tissue located?
- Liver
- Kidney
- Spleen
- Lymph nodes
- Bone marrow
What is the function of reticular tissue?
Provides supporting framework
What is the dominant fiber in dense connective tissues?
Collagen fibers
What are the types of dense connective tissues?
- Dense regular
- Dense irregular
- Elastic
Where is dense regular CT located?
- Between skeletal muscles and skeleton (tendons)
- Between bones or stabilizing positions of internal organs (ligaments)
- Covering skeletal muscles
- Deep fasciae
What are the functions of Dense regular connective tissue?
- Provides firm attachment
- Conducts pull of muscles
- Reduces friction between muscles
- Stabilizes relative positions of bones
Where is Dense Irregular connective tissue located?
- Capsules of visceral organs
- Periostea and perichondria
- Nerve and muscle sheaths
- Dermis
What are the functions of dense irregular connective tissue?
- Provides strength to resist forces applied from many directions
- Helps prevents over expansion of organs (ex- urinary bladder)
Where is Elastic tissue located?
- Between vertebrae of the spinal column
- Ligaments supporting penis
- Ligaments supporting transitional epithelia
- In blood vessel walls
What are the functions of Elastic tissue?
- Stabilizes positions of vertebrae and penis
- Cushions shocks
- Permits expansion and contraction of organs
What does blood contain?
- Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
The extra cellular fluid of fluid connective tissue includes what three major subdivisions?
- Plasma
- Interstitial fluid
- Lymph
What is the function of red blood cells?
Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
What is the function of white blood cells?
Help protect the body against infection and disease
What is the function of platelets?
Function in the clotting response that seals breaks in blood vessel walls
What are the types of cartilage?
- Hyaline
- Elastic
- Fibrous
What is perichondrium?
Separates cartilage from the surrounding tissues. Contains two distinct layers:
1. Fibrous layer- outer layer of dense irregular connective tissue. Provides mechanical support and protection and attaches the cartilage to other structures
2. Cellular layer- inner layer important for growth and maintenance of the cartilage
Where is Hyaline cartilage found?
- Between tips of ribs and bones of sternum
- Covering bone surfaces at synovial joints
- Supporting larynx, trachea, and bronchi
- Forming part of nasal septum
What are the functions of Hyaline cartilage?
- Provides stiff but somewhat flexible support
- Reduces friction between bony surfaces
Where can Elastic cartilage be found?
- Auricle of external ear
- Epiglottis
- Auditory canal
- Cuneiform cartilages of larynx
What are the functions of Elastic cartilage?
- Provides support but tolerates distortion without damage and returns to original shape
Where is Fibrous cartilage found?
- Pads within knee joint
- Between pubic bones of pelvis
- Intervertebral discs
What are the functions of Fibrous cartilage?
- Resists compression
- Prevents bone to bone contact
- Limits relative movement
What are the types of bone?
- Compact bone
- Spongy bone
What is the covering of bone called?
Periosteum, 2 layers
