Connective and Supporting tissue

Question 1

What are the four tissue types of the mammalian
body?

Answer 1

Connective, Epithelial, Muscle and nervous tissue

Question 2

What are the 3 characteristic components of connective tissue?

Answer 2

1. Cells
2. Protein fibers
3. Large amounts of amorphous ground substance

Question 3

Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely packed together, cells of
connective tissue…..

Answer 3

….are more widely dispersed within an extracellular matrix (ECM)

Question 4

What is ECM?

Answer 4

It s is a mix of fibers and ground substance and determines the physical
properties of the tissue

Question 5

ECM is produced and assembled under the control of what?

Answer 5

Support cells, most
commonly fibroblasts

Question 6

The cells of supporting tissue are derived from what?

Answer 6

Precursor
cells in primitive (fetal) supporting tissue called mesenchyme

Question 7

The ECM plays a major role in …..

Answer 7

….. the functioning of this tissue as the major component of the matrix is ground substance

Question 8

What is the ground substance made of?

Answer 8

Usually a fluid, but it can also be mineralized and solid, as in bones

Question 9

The amount and structure of each component …

Answer 9

….correlates with the function of
the tissue

Question 10

What are the connective tissues functions? (5)

Answer 10

1. Support
2. Protection
3. Defence
4. Nutrition
5. Insulation

Question 11

Describe the support function of connective tissues

Answer 11

Connective tissue sheath that surrounds a muscle, to the tendons that
attach muscles to bones, and to the skeleton that supports the positions of
the body

Question 12

Describe the protection function of connective tissues

Answer 12

In the form of fibrous capsules and bones that protect delicate organs

Question 13

Describe the defence function of connective tissues

Answer 13

Specialized cells in connective tissue (blood) defend the body from
microorganisms that enter the body

Question 14

Describe the nutrition function of connective tissues

Answer 14

Transport of gases, nutrients, waste, and chemical messengers by specialized fluid in the connective tissues, such as blood and lymph

Question 15

Describe the insulation function of connective tissues

Answer 15

Adipose cells store surplus energy in the form of fat and contribute to the thermal insulation of the body

Question 16

Cells in connective tissue can be found in what forms?

Answer 16

An active form (suffix –blast),
where they are dividing and secreting the components of ground substance, and an inactive form (suffix –cyte)

Question 17

WHat does fibroblast produce?

Answer 17

Fibers and amorphous ground substance

Question 18

What do polysaccharides and proteins secreted by fibroblasts combine with extra-cellular
fluids to produce?

Answer 18

A viscous ground substance that, with embedded fibrous
proteins and cells, forms the extra-cellular matrix