Connective Tissue Flashcards
Functions of Connective Tissue
connects other tissues and organs together, forms skeleton, carries and stores nutrients, and supports blood vessels and nerves
Structural Elements of Connective Tissue
Living Component: cells
Nonliving Component: Extracellular Matrix made of ground substance & Protein fibers
What are the different protein fibers that make up CT?
elastic fibers, collagen fibers, reticular fibers
“-blast” means…
producing EC matrix (blast - build)
“-clast” means…
breaking down the EC matrix (clast - crash)
“-cyte” means…
maintaining the EC matrix
“Fibro-“ is…
primary cell type in CT proper
“Chondro-“ is…
the primary cell type in cartilage
“Oseto-“ is…
… the primary cell type in bones
“Adipo-“ is…
… the primary cell type in fat
Classes of CT Proper
Loose CT & Dense CT
Classes of Cartilage
Hyaline, Fibrocartilage, Elastic
Types of Loose CT
Areolar, Adipose, Reticular
Functions of Loose Areolar CT
Serves as “packing material” around organs; Involved in immunity and inflammation
Locations of Loose Areolar CT
Underlies most epithelia; Surrounds nerves and blood vessels
Characteristics & Functions of Loose Adipose CT
Well vascularized
Protection of organs; Energy source
Locations of Loose Adipose CT
Hypodermis; Visceral fat; Around highly active organs (ex. Heart and kidneys)
Types & Functions of Loose Adipose CT
Brown Adipose: produces heat and is a nutrient consumer
White Adipose: Most fat is white
Function of Loose Reticular CT
Forms soft internal skeleton
Locations of Loose Reticular CT
Lymphoid organs (ex. Spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes)
Types of Dense CT
Dense Regular, Dense Irregular, Dense Elastic
Function & Locations of Dense Regular CT
provide strength in one direction
Tendons & Ligaments
Characteristics & Function of Dense Irregular CT
Collagen fibers run in many different directions to each other
Able to resist strong tensions from different directions
Location of Dense Irregular CT
Dermis, Joint capsules, Overlying capsules of kidney and spleen
Function & Locations of Dense Elastic CT
Withstand stretch and capable of recoil Elastic arteries (ex. Aorta)
