Connective Tissue Flashcards
Extracellular Matrix components
Ground substance and protein fibers (elastic fiber, collagen fiber, and reticular fiber)
Types of Connective tissue proper
Loose (areolar) connective tissue, Dense irregular connective tissue, Dense regular connective tissue
Types of Embryonic connective tissues
Mesenchyme and Mucoid (mucous) connective tissue
Types of specialized connective tissues
Reticular connective tissue, Adipose tissue, Cartilage, Bone, Blood
Loose (areolar) connective tissue organization
A type of connective tissue proper with more ground substance than collagen; randomly distributed
Loose (areolar) connective tissue function
Function: Supports microvasculature, nerves, and immune defense
Example: Lamina propria beneath epithelial lining of digestive tract
Dense irregular connective tissue organization
A type of connective tissue proper with little ground substance; few cells (mostly fibroblasts); much collagen in randomly arranged fibers, some elastic fibers
Dense irregular connective tissue function
Function: Protects and supports organs; resists tearing
Example: Dermis of skin, organ capsules, submucosa layer of digestive tract
Dense regular connective tissue organization
A type of connective tissue proper that is almost completely filled with parallel bundles of collagen; few fibroblasts, aligned with collagen
Dense regular connective tissue function
Function: Provide strong connections within musculoskeletal system, strong resistance to force
Example: Ligaments, tendons, aponeuroses, corneal stroma
Mesenchyme organization
A type of embryonic connective tissue that has sparse, undifferentiated cells, uniformly distributed in matrix with sparse collagen fibers
Consists largely of viscous ground substance with few collagen fibers
Mesenchyme function
Function: Contains stem/progenitor cells for all adult connective tissue cells
Example: Mesodermal layer of early embryo
Mucoid (mucous) connective tissue organization
A type of embryonic connective tissue with random fibroblasts and collagen fibers in viscous matrix
Mucoid (mucous) connective tissue function
Function: Supports and cushions large blood vessels
Example: Matrix of the fetal umbilical cord
Reticular connective tissue organization
A type of specialized connective tissue that has a delicate network of reticulin/collagen III with attached fibroblasts (reticular cells)
Reticular connective tissue function
Function: Supports blood-forming cells, many secretory cells, and lymphocytes in most lymphoid organs
Example: Bone marrow, liver, pancreas, adrenal glands, all lymphoid organs except the thymus
Glycosaminoglycan (GAG, also called mucopolysaccharide)
A complex polysaccharide composed of disaccharide groups (a “double-sugar”). GAG’s are highly polar and attract water
Two common examples of glycosaminoglycans are
chondroitin sulfate and
heparin.
The largest most ubiquitous GAG is hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) which is important in diffusion through connective tissue and in lubricating various organs and joints.
Chondroitin Sulfate
A common GAG used as a supplement for joint health.
Functions in space filling, cushioning, and lubrication. Found in cartilage
Collagen fibers
The most important and abundant connective tissue fibers; a protein, with some 20 related types. One of the protein fibers associated with ECM
Collagen is produced by fibroblasts
Collagen forms about 30% of body weight
Reticular fibers
Delicate network of Type III collagen, found in reticular tissue, stain very dark with silver stains and are abundant in immune and lymphoid tissues. One of the protein fibers associated with ECM
Elastic fibers
Sheets called elastic lamellae, are composed of elastin and fibrillin in a stretchable conformation. One of the protein fibers associated with ECM
Type I Collagen
Location: Skin, tendon, bone, dentin
Function: Resistance to tension
Type II Collagen
Location: Cartilage, vitreous body
Function: Resistance to pressure
Cells of Connective Tissues
Fibroblasts, Adipocytes
Originate form hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow: Macrophages, Mast cells, Plasma cells, other leukocytes (WBCs)
Fibroblasts (fibrocytes)
Major Product or Activity: Extracellular fibers and ground substance
Synthesize and secrete most components of the ECM, including fibers (collagen and elastin)
Key cells in connective tissue proper
Plasma cells
Major Product: Antibodies
Originate from hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow, circulate in the blood, and then move into connective tissue where they function.
Macrophages
Major Product or Activity: Phagocytosis of ECM components and debris; antigen processing and presentation to immune cells; secretion of growth factors, cytokines, and other agents
Originate from hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow, circulate in the blood, and then move into connective tissue where they function.
Mast cells and basophilic leukocytes
Major Products or Activity: A type of white blood cell (leucocyte) and are part of the immune system. Mast cells release vasoactive agents and other substances during inflammatory and allergic reactions, and tissue repair.
Pharmacologically active molecules (eg. histamine).
They originate
from blood cell precursors in bone marrow.
Adipocytes
Major Activity: Storage of neutral fats
Ground substance
Comprised of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) or mucopolysaccharides, Proteoglycans, and other multi-adhesive glycoproteins
Importance in water balance, especially in capillaries and surrounding tissues
Interstitial fluid
Water in the ground substance of connective tissue
Keloid
a local swelling caused by abnormally large amounts of collagen that form in scars of the skin
Primarily form in people of African descent
Skin repair process
Repair occurs in overlapping stages
- Blood clots at wound site, releasing growth factors and other substances.
- Macrophages and neutrophils enter the wound as inflammation begins, and epithelial cells from the cut edges of the epidermis begin to migrate beneath and through the blood clot.
- Under the influence of growth factors and hydrolytic enzymes released in part from macrophages, fibroblasts proliferate and produce new collagen to form “granulation tissue” containing new, growing capillaries.
- The epidermis gradually re-establishes continuity over the wound, but excessive collagen usually remains in the dermis as scar tissue.
Aponeuroses are composed of which type of connective tissue proper?
Dense regular connective tissue
One type of GAG is chondroitin sulfate, which functions in space-filling, cushioning, and lubrication. One tissue where this molecule is found is
Cartilage
What do these cell types have in common: Microglia, osteoclasts, and Kupffer cells?
They are part of the mononuclear phagocyte system.
What is the most abundant protein in the human body?
Collagen