Chapter 4: Connective Tissue Flashcards
How is a functionally integrated body maintained?
The connective tissue forms a linkage with the epithelial, muscular, and nervous tissues to maintain a functionally integrated body.
Connective tissue origin
Middle mesodermal layer of the embryonic tissue. From this layer, mesenchymal cells migrate throughout the body, giving rise to connect tissue cells.
What are the characteristics of connective tisssue?
- Formed of widely separated cells with a large amount of Intracellular matrix.
- Penetrated by blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves.
What are the functions of the connective tissue?
- Provides structural support for tissues and organs.
- Serves as medium of exchange of metabolic wastes, nutrients, and oxygen between blood and body cells.
- Site of fat storage.
- Defense and protection of the body by their phagocytic and cells of immunity.
What are the components of connective tissue?
- Cells
- Matrix: soft, rubbery, solid, and fluid.
Solid matrix
Bones
Rubbery matrix
Cartilage
Fluid matrix
Blood
Soft matrix
Connective tissue proper.
Connective tissue proper is divided into?
Cells:
1. Resident cells
2. Transient cells
Matrix:
1. Fibers
2. Ground substances
Resident Cells of C.T. Proper
- Fibroblast
- Fat cells (adipose)
- Mast cells
- Macrophages
- Reticular cells
- Pericytes
- UMC
Transient Cells of C.T. Proper
- Plasma cells
- Leukocytes
Resident cells
Long lived cells
Transient cells
Short lived
Matrix fibers of C.T. Proper
- Collagen
- Elastic
- Reticular
UMC site in embryo
Unspecialized stem cell
UMC site in adults
Remain undifferentiated in certain areas to act as a life-long source for some cells:
In the bone marrow: blood cells.
Around blood vessels: pericytes (perivascular cell).
UMC LM
- Small branched cell.
- Pale basophilic cytoplasm.
- Central large oval pale nucleus with visible nucleoli.
UMC EM
- Many free ribosomes.
- Euchromatic nucleus.
UMC function
Can divide and differentiate into other types of C.T cells.
Pericyte (perivascular) cells origin
UMC
Pericytes site
Adult mesenchymal stem cells around blood capillaries.
Pericyte LM
- Branched with long process.
- Pale basophilic cytoplasm.
- Central large oval pale nucleus with visible nucleoli.
Pericytes EM
- Many free ribosomes.
- Euchromatic nucleus.
- Network of myosin and actin.
Pericytes function
In injury: can divide and differentiate into endothelium, fibroblast, and smooth muscle cells.
By contraction: vasoconstriction.
Fibroblasts Origin
UMC and Pericytes
Fibroblasts site
Most common type of C.T. Cells. Found in nearly all types of C.T. Proper.
Fibroblasts shape
Active fibroblasts and inactive fibroblasts (fibrocytes).
Active fibroblasts LM
- Branches of many long thin processes.
- Deep basophilic cytoplasm.
- Central large oval pale nucleus with prominent nucleolus.
Inactive fibroblasts LM
- Smaller spindle with few processes.
- Paler basophilic cytoplasm.
- Darker nucleus.
Active fibroblasts EM
An image of a protein synthesizing cell:
1. Many mitochondria
2. Well developed Golgi apparatus
3. Well developed rER
4. Euchromatic nucleus.
Inactive fibroblasts EM
- Less mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and rER.
- Nucleus with more Heterochromatin.
Active fibroblasts functions
- Synthesis of C.T. fibers.
- Synthesis of ground substances of the matrix.
- Production of growth factors for cell growth and differentiation.
- Healing and repair of C.T. after injury.
Functions of inactive fibroblasts
- In injury it becomes active, wound healing.
- Continuous slow turnover of extracellular components to maintain C.T.
Adipose cell other names
Fat cell, adipocyte.
Origin of adipose cell
UMC
Site of adipose cell
- Unilocular adipose cell
- White adipose C.T. - Mulilocular adipose cell
- Brown adipose C.T.
White adipose LM
- Large oval ( 50-150 micrometers).
- Fat is stored as one large droplet ( contains dissolved caretnoids) displacing the cytoplasm and nucleus peripherally.
- Fat is removed during H and E which gives it a signet ring appearance.
- Peripheral flattened nucleus.
- Special stain: Sudan III (orange).
Brown adipose LM
- Smaller.
- Fat is present as multiple small droplets.
- No signet ring appearance.
- Mostly eccentric, round nucleus.
- Pigmented ( Brown color).
White adipose EM
- Abundant sER.
- Few mitochondria.
- Large single electron dense fat droplet.
Brown adipose EM
- Less sER.
- Many mitochondria ( rich in cytochrome oxidase).
- Multiple small electron dense fat droplets.
Functions of white adipose
- Synthesis and storage of fat.
- Support of organs such as the kidney.
- Heat insulation.
- Endocrine function: secrete leptin hormone, which inhibits food intake and stimulates metabolic rate and loss of body weight.
Brown adipose functions
- Thermogenesis: breakdown of fat to release heat via thermogenesis protein found in their mitochondria.
Reticular cell origin
UMC
Reticular cell site
At Roma of glands and organs such as the lymph nodes, endocrine glands, and spleen.
Reticular cell LM
- Small Stella tea with many long thin processes.
- Pale basophilic cytoplasm.
- Central pale round nucleus with prominent nucleolus.
Reticular EM
- Variable number of organelle depending on its activity.
- Processes are joined by cell junctions.
Reticular cell functions
- Supportive network of reticular fibers.
- Secretion of reticular fibers.
- Turns phagocytic when stimulated by antigen.
- Antigen presenting cell to activate lymphocytes.
Macrophages origin
Monocytes
Macrophages site
In C.T. Like bone marrow, bone, brain, liver, lung, lymphoid tissue.
Macrophages LM
- Large irregularly shaped.
- Pale basophilic cytoplasm.
- Eccentric, dark kidney shaped nucleus.
- Special stains:
- vital sign: tarpan stain or India ink. - Stain is phagocytoses by the cell.
Macrophage (histiophage) EM
- Cell membrane shows pseudopodia.
- Rich in lysosomes, phagocytosed particles and residual bodies.
- Prominent Golgi apparatus, few rER.
- Heterochromatic nucleus.
Macrophages functions
- Phagocytosis and destruction of foreign particles, microorganisms, and dead cells (debris).
- Multinucleated foreign body giant cell is formed by their fusion to engulf large particles.
- Antigen presenting cell to activate lymphocytes.
- Destruction of old RBC’s (liver and spleen).
Mast cell origin
UMC
Mast cell site
- Loose C.T around blood vessel.
- Loose C.T. Under epithelium in lungs and digestive tube.
Mast cell LM
- Large oval cell shape.
- Basophilic cytoplasm with basophilic granules.
- Central spherical pale nucleus.
- Specific stain: granules stained metachromatically (purple or red) by toluidine blue.
Mast cell EM
- Well developed Golgi apparatus.
- Many mitochondria.
- Few rER.
- Electron dense membrane bound granules (secretory vesicles).
Mast cell functions
- Carries surface receptors for IgE and responsible for secretion of:
- Heparin: anticoagulant.
- Histamine: vasodilation and increased permeability.
- Leukotrienes: smooth muscle contraction in bronchial tree (which lead to) bronchial asthma.
- Eosinphil chemotactic factor: attracts eosinophils to allergic site.
Heparin
Anticoagulant
Histamine
Vasodilation and increased permeability.
Leukotrienes
Smooth muscle contraction in bronchial tree (which leads to) bronchial asthma.
Eosinophil chemotactic factor
Attracts eosinophil to allergic site.