Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of connective tissue?

A
  • comprises much of the body and is the most abundant type of tissue by weight
  • Binds structures
  • Provides support and protection
  • Serves as frameworks
  • fills spaces
  • Stores fat
  • Produces blood cells
  • Protects against infection and repairs tissue damage
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the general characteristics of connective tissue?

A
  • Cells are farther apart and have an abundant extracellular matrix between them
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is an extracellular matrix?

A
  • Is composed of protein fibers and a ground substance consisting of nonferrous protein and other molecules and fluid
  • Binds supports, and provides a medium thru with substances may be transferred between blood and cells of tissue
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What’s the consistency of the extracellular matrix?

A

Varies from fluid/semisolid to solid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the major cell types in CT?

A
  • Fibroblasts
  • Macrophages
  • Mast cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the general characteristics of fibroblasts?

A
  • The most common type of fixed cells in CT.
  • Large/star-shaped cells
  • Produce fibers by secreting proteins into the extracellular matrix
  • Respond rapidly to injury by increasing # of fiber production
  • Help repair tissue
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the general characteristics of macrophages?

A
  • Histiocytes
  • Usually attached to fibers but can detach and actively move about
  • Specialized to carry on phagocytosis (the exocytosis of large particles/viruses/microorganisms_
  • Clear foreign particles from tissues, provides defense against infection
  • Plays role in immunity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the general characteristics of mast cells?

A
  • Widely distributed in CT
  • Usually are near blood vessels
  • Derived from white blood cells
  • Release heparin (compound that prevents blood clotting)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which cell releases histamine?

A
  • Mast cells release histamine.
  • Stimulates inflammation by dilating the small arterioles that feed the capillaries
  • Is inhospitable to infections, bacteria and viruses
  • also dilutes toxins
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

WHAT ARE THE SIX COMPONENTS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE?!

A
CELLULAR: 
- Fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells
EXTRACELLULAR:
- Collagen, elastic, reticular fibers
- Ground substance
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the function of Collagen fibers?

A
  • Thick, threadlike structures
  • The body’s main structural protein
  • Great tensile strength; slightly elastic
  • Found in ligaments and tendons
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the function of Elastic fibers?

A
  • Bundles of microfibrils embedded in elastin
  • Provides elastic quality to parts that stretch
  • Not as strong as collagen fibers
  • Found in vocal cords, respiratory air passages
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the function of reticular fibers?

A
  • Thin fibers of collagen
  • Forms delicate supportive networks within tissues
  • Found in the spleen/liver
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the function of ground substance?

A
  • nonfibrous protein and other molecules, and varying amounts of fluid
  • Fills spaces around cells and fibers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

WHAT ARE THE TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES OF CT?

A
  • Ct proper

- Specialized CT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is CT proper?

A
  • Includes loose CT tissue
    (Areolar, adipose, reticular)
  • and DENSE CT
    (Dense regular, irregular, and elastic)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the general characteristics of dense CT? and loose CT?

A
Dense CT:
- Contains abundant collagen fibers
- Appears white
Loose CT:
- Has fewer collagen fibers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

General characteristics of Areolar CT

A
  • Forms delicate, thin membranes thru-out the body
  • Mainly fibroblasts that are located some distance apart and are separated by a gel-like ground substance that contains collagen and elastic fibers
  • binds skin to underlying organs
  • Beneath most epithelium layers/nourishes blood vessels near epithelial cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

General characteristics of adipose

A
  • adipocytes store fat
  • push their nuclei to one side
  • crowd out other cell types
  • protects/cushions/insulates
  • Beneath skin
  • Behind eyeballs
  • Around kidney/heart
  • spaces between muscles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Two types of adipose tissue

A

White adipocytes:

  • store nutrients for nearby cells to use in production of energy
  • Brown fats have many mitochondria that can break down nutrients to generate heat to warm the body.
21
Q

What are the general characteristics of Reticular CT?

A
  • composed of thin reticular fibers in a 3D network.

- Provides the framework of certain internal organs such as the liver/spleen

22
Q

What are the general characteristics of dense CT?

A
  • Densely packed collagenous fibers; a fine network of elastic fibers; and few cells, mostly fibroblasts
  • Very strong/withstand pulling forces
  • Binds body parts together
  • Tendons/ligaments/dermis
  • POOR BLOOD SUPPLY; slow to heal
23
Q

What are the general characteristics of dense irregular CT?

A
  • are thicker, interwove, and more randomly distributed than fibers of dense regular CT.
  • Allow tissue to sustain tension exerted from many different directions.
  • Dermis of skin
  • around skeletal muscles
  • (periosteum, which covers the bones)
  • (Within the perichondrium - which covers cartilage; in some capsules of some organs)
24
Q

What are the general characteristics of elastic CT?

A
  • Abundant yellow elastic fibers in parallel strands or branching networks
  • Between the fibers are collagen/fibroblasts
  • Found in the attachments between bones of the spinal column
  • Walls of hollow organs, arteries, and airways
  • elastic quality
25
What are specialized CT?
- include cartilage, bone and blood | - Each have unique extracellular matrix with highly specialized cells not found in other CT
26
What are the general characteristics of cartilage?
- A rigid, specialized CT - Support, frameworks, and attachments; protects underlying tissues - Forms structural models for many developing bones - Extracellular matrix is abundant and largely composed of collagen fibers embedded in a gel-like ground substance
27
What is a chondrocytes?
- Cartilage cells | - occupy small chambers called lacunae and lie completely within the extracellular matrix
28
What is perichondrium?
- Cartilage structure is enclosed in perichondrium (a CT covering) - Blood vessels surround the perichondrium and obtain nutrients from the vessels via diffusion
29
What are the general characteristics of hyaline cartilage?
- Fine collagen fibers - is the most common type of cartilage - found at the ends of bones and in many joints - In the soft part of the nose, and the supporting rings of the respiratory passages - Protects, supports, and provides framework for the development of bones
30
What are the general characteristics of elastic cartilage?
- flexible due to elastic fibers in the matrix - located in the external ear, and the larynx - provides framework for the ears, and the parts of the larynx
31
What are the general Characteristics of fibrocartilage?
- very tough tissue due to many collagenous fibers - shock absorber for structures subjected to pressure - cushions the knees and the pelvic girdle - is also located in the intervertebral discs)
32
What are the 3 types of cartilage?
- hyaline - elastic - fibrocartilage
33
What are the general characteristics of bone?
- most rigid CT | - Hardens due to large amounts of mineral salts such as calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate between cells
34
What is the function of bone?
- supports the body structures - Protects vital structures in the cranial/thoracic cavities and is the attachment for muscles - Contains red marrow, which forms blood cells - Stores and releases inorganic chemicals such as calcium and phosphorus
35
What are the two types of bone tissue?
- compact | - spongy
36
What are the main characteristics of bone (osseous) CT?
- most rigid tissue - solid matrix composed ot calcium and collagen - supports structures - produces blood cells - Contains osteocytes in lacunae
37
Characteristics of compact bone?
- cells are called osteoblasts - deposit bony matrix in thin layers called lamellae - Forms concentric patterns around tubes called central, or Haversian canals (which contain blood vessels)
38
What are the functions of blood CT?
- composed of formed elements suspended in a fluid extracellular matrix called PLASMA - formed elements include: red/white bloods cells, and cellular fragments called platelets
39
What are the functions of the formed elements within blood?
Red blood cells: transport gases White blood cells: fight infections platelets: involved in blood clotting
40
WHAT ARE THE SIX TYPES OF CT PROPER?
- areolar CT - adipose CT - reticular CT - dense regular CT - dense irregular CT - Elastic CT
41
WHAT ARE THE FIVE TYPES OF SPECIALIZED CT?
- hyaline cartilage - elastic cartilage - fibrocartilage - blood - bone
42
What are membranes?
Membranes are sheets of cells
43
What are epithelial membranes?
- Are thin structures that are composed of epithelium and underlying CT - Cover body surfaces and line cavities
44
What are the 3 major types of epithelial membranes?
- serous - mucus - cutaneous
45
What are the functions of serous membrane?
- line body cavities that do not open to outside of body - inner lining of thorax, abdomen, and covers organs - consists of a layer of simple squamous epithelium + a thin layer of areolar CT - secrete serous fluid for lubrication
46
What are the functions of the mucus membrane?
- lines cavities/tubes that open to the outside of the body - lining of digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tracts - consists of epithelium laying over a layer of areolar CT - goblet cells within mucus membrane secrete mucus
47
What are the functions of the cutaneous membrane?
- skin | - part of the integumary system
48
What are the functions of the synovial membrane?
- different from epithelial membrane - composed entirely of CT - lines joint cavities