Connective tissue

Question 1

What is the function of connective tissue?

Answer 1

Gives shape & maintains the form of the body

Question 2

What are the components of connective tissue?

Answer 2

Cells
Extracellular matrix

Question 3

What is the extracellular matrix composed of?

Answer 3

Fibers + Ground substance

Question 4

How may vasculature vary between connective tissue types?

Answer 4

Cartilage is avascular
Dense connective tissue is poorly vascularized
Other types of connective tissue have a rich supply of blood vessels

Question 5

What are the characteristics of ground substance?

Answer 5

Substance in which connective tissue cells and fibers are embedded
Not visible in regular histological sections
Can be liquid, gel, semi–solid or hard

Question 6

What are the types of connective tissue fibers?

Answer 6

Collagen Fibers
Elastic Fibers
Reticular Fibers

Question 7

Characteristics of collagen fibers

Answer 7

Main fiber type in the CT
Most abundant protein in the human body
Thick, wavy & doesn’t branch
White in color when it is fresh
Found in bone, cartilage, etc.

Question 8

Which cells synthesize collagen fibers?

Answer 8

Fibroblasts: Connective tissue proper
Osteoblasts: Bone
Chondroblasts: Cartilage
Odontoblasts: Teeth
Smooth Muscle Cells: Blood vessels

Question 9

Characteristics of elastic fibers

Answer 9

Composed of elastin
Thinner than collagen fibers
Arranged in branching pattern
They confer stretch & recoil
E.g. elastic fibers in the aorta

Question 10

Characteristics of reticular fibers

Answer 10

Thin branching fibers
When stained with silver, they appear black
Delicate network
Form a supporting network around the liver, spleen, lymph nodes & bone marrow cells.

Question 11

What is the difference between immature and mature connective tissue cells?

Answer 11

Immature Cells: Actively produce matrix (names end in “blast”)
Mature Cells: Maintain the matrix & regenerate it after injury (names end in “cyte”)

Question 12

Examples of immature connective tissue cells

Answer 12

Fibroblasts: Make connective tissue fibers
Chodroblasts: Make cartilage
Osteoblasts: Make bone
Hematopoietic cells: Make blood

Question 13

What are Resident and Transient Cells?

Answer 13

Resident Cells: Cell which reside in connective tissue. E.g. fibrocytes, fibroblasts, adipocytes
Transient/Wandering Cells: Cells that migrate from blood to connective tissue. E.g. monocytes, plasma cells, mast cells, lymphocytes

Question 14

How are connective tissues classified?

Answer 14

Composition
Organization of cellular & extracellular structures
Function

Question 15

What are the types of adult connective tissue?

Answer 15

Connective Tissue Proper
Specialised Connective Tissue

Question 16

What are the types of connective tissue proper?

Answer 16

Question 17

What are the types of specialised connective tissue?

Answer 17

Cartilage
Bone
Blood

Question 18

Describe the structure of areolar connective tissue

Answer 18

Gel-like matrix with fibers
Cells include fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells and white blood cells

Question 19

What are the functions of areolar connective tissue?

Answer 19

Wraps and cushions organs
Macrophages phagocytize bacteria
Plays a role in inflammation
Holds and conveys tissue fluid

Question 20

Locations of areolar connective tissue

Answer 20

Widely distributed under epithelia forming lamina propria of mucous membranes
Packages organs
Surrounds capillaries

Question 21

Describe the structure of reticular connective tissue

Answer 21

Network of reticular fibers in loose ground substance
Reticular cells lie on the network

Question 22

What are the functions of reticular connective tissue?

Answer 22

Fibers form a soft skeleton (stroma) which supports other cells including WBCs, mast cells and macrophages

Question 23

Location of reticular connective tissue

Answer 23

Lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, bone marrow and spleen)

Question 24

Describe the composition of adipose connective tissue

Answer 24

Matrix similar to areolar but space
Closely packed adipocytes
Have nucleus pushed to the side by large fat droplets

Question 25

What are the functions of adipose connective tissue?

Answer 25

Provides reserve food fuel Insulates against heat loss Supports and protects organs

Question 26

Locations of adipose connective tissue

Answer 26

Under skin Around kidneys and eyeballs Within abdomen In breasts

Question 27

Describe the composition of dense regular connective tissue

Answer 27

Mostly parallel collagen fibers Major cell type is fibroblasts

Question 28

What are the functions of dense regular connective tissue

Answer 28

Attaches muscles to bone or other muscles Attaches bones to bones Withstands great tensile stress when pulling force is applied in one direction

Question 29

Location of dense regular connective tissue

Answer 29

Tendons Most ligaments Aponeuroses

Question 30

Describe the composition of dense irregular connective tissue

Answer 30

Primarily irregular arranged collagen fibers Some elastic fibers Major cell type is fibroblasts

Question 31

What are the functions of dense irregular connective tissue?

Answer 31

Can withstand tension exerted in many directions Provides structural strength

Question 32

Location of dense irregular connective tissue

Answer 32

Dermis of skin Submucosa of digestive tract Fibrous capsule of organs and joints

Question 33

Describe the composition of elastic connective tissue

Answer 33

Composed predominantly of elastic fibers

Question 34

Location of dense elastic connective tissue

Answer 34

Ligamentum nuchae Vocal ligaments Big arteries, e.g. aorta

Question 35

What are the functions of connective tissue?

Answer 35

**Support**: Provides support to epithelium (e.g. basement membrane, collagen fibers) **Transport**: Of oxygen and nutrients (e.g. RBCs) **Protection**: Form part of the body's defenses against pathogenic microorganisms (WBCs) **Storage**: Fat cells store fat, ground substance stores water, ions and inorganic material **Tissue repair**: Helps in wound healing (e.g. fibroblasts)