Connective Tissue (08) Flashcards
What is Connective Tissue?
- Abundant (in every organ)
- Cells separated by extracellular matrix
- Many diverse types
- Variety of functions
7 Functions of Connective Tissue
- Enclose organs as a capsule
- Connect tissues to one another (ligaments and tendons)
- Support and movement (bones)
- Storage (fat)
- Cushion and Insulate (fat)
- Transport (blood)
- Protect (cells of the immune system)
Descriptive Word Stem ‘Blast’ means:
Create the matrix (Eg osteoblast)
Descriptive Word Stem ‘Cyte’ means:
Maintain the matrix (Eg chondrocyte)
Descriptive Word Stem ‘Clast’ means:
Break the matrix down for remodelling (Eg osteoclasts)
Extracellular Matrix is made up of 2 things:
- Protein fibres
- Ground substance
3 types of protein fibres
- Collagen
- Reticular
- Elastic
Collagen protein fibre
Most common protein in body; strong, flexible, inelastic
Reticular protein fibre
Fill spaces between tissues and organs. Fine
collagenous, form branching networks
Elastic protein fibre
Returns to its original shape after distension or
compression. Contain molecules of protein elastin that resemble coiled springs; molecules are cross-linked
Ground substance
- hyaluronic acid, proteoglycan, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs),
adhesion proteins - May be fluid, semifluid, gelatinous or calcified
Mature connective tissues
- connective tissue proper (loose or dense)
- supporting connective tissue (cartilage/bone)
- fluid connective tissue (blood)
Loose connective tissue proper
Fewer fibers, more ground substance.
– Areolar, adipose & reticular
Dense connective tissue proper
More fibers, less ground substance.
- regular or irregular collagenous
- regular or irregular elastic
Loose Areolar CT
- Loose packing material of most organs and tissues
- Attaches skin to underlying tissues
- Contains collagen, reticular, elastic fibers
Adipose Tissue
- Specialized for storage of triglycerides
- Found where areolar CT located
- Energy store, supports & protects organs, insulation
Dense Regular Collagenous CT
- Has abundant collagen fibers that resist stretching
- Tendons: Connect muscles to bones
- Ligaments: Connect bones to bones.
Dense Irregular Collagenous CT
- Protein fibers arranged in a randomly oriented network
- Forms most of the dermis of the skin, scars, capsules
of kidney and spleen
Dense Regular Elastic CT
- Ligaments in vocal folds; nuchal ligament
- Collagen fibers give strength (for when you shout), but
elastic fibers are more prevalent
Dense Irregular Elastic CT
- Bundles and sheets of collagenous and elastic fibers oriented in multiple directions; contains predominately elastic fibers
- In walls of elastic arteries
- Strong, yet elastic
Ex. Aorta
