Connective tissue Flashcards
What is the cell spacing like in connective tissue?
Separated by a non-living extracellular matrix
What does the matrix allow connective tissues to do?
Bear weight
Withstand tension
Tolerate abuses
What are the functions of connective tissues?
Bind and support
Protect
Insulate
Transport substances
(BPIT)
What is ground substance?
Material between cells that contains fibers and holds fluid for nutrient diffusion
What are the 3 types of fibers?
Collagen
Elastic
Reticular
What do collagen fibers look like
Wide and wavey
Stain pink
What do elastic fibers look like?
Thin and flexible
Stain black
What do reticular fibers look like?
Spiderwebs
Stain black
What cells are found in the matrix of areolar CT?
Mast cells, macrophages and fibroblasts
What do mast cells do?
Produce heparin and histamine
What do macrophages do
eat bacteria and dead or dying cells
What do fibroblasts do?
build fibers
Where is areolar tissue found?
Between skin and muscles
Packaging organs
surrounding capillaries
What is the function of areolar CT?
Wrap and cushion organs
Phagocytize bacteria
Hold and convey tissue fluid
What is adipose tissue composed of?
Adipocytes: ring shaped cells filled with triglycerides
(chicken wire appearance)
Where is adipose tissue found?
Around organs and joints
surround the eye
Abdomen
What does adipose tissue do?
Absorbs shock
Stores energy
Protects
Insulates
What does reticular tissue look like?
A network of reticular fibers with macrophages interspersed
Where is reticular tissue found?
Spleen
Lymph nodes
Liver
What does reticular tissue do in the spleen?
Macrophages break down dying RBCs
What does reticular tissue do in the lymph nodes?
Macrophages devour bacteria, viruses and cancer cells
What does reticular tissue do in the liver?
Macrophages devour bacteria
What does dense regular CT look like?
White/pink parallel collagen fibers with dark coloured fibroblasts
Where is dense regular CT found?
Tendons and ligaments
scar tissue
aponeuroses
What does dense regular CT do?
High tensile strength in one direction
Attach muscle to bone
Attach bone to bone
What does hyaline cartilage look like?
Chondrocytes in lacunae with a glassy extracellular matrix and bordered by the perichondrium
What does hyaline mean?
glassy
What does perichondrium mean?
Around cartilage
Where is hyaline cartilage found?
Embryonic skeleton
Ends of long bones
Costal cartilage
Nose
Larynx
Trachea
What does hyaline cartilage do?
Smooth surface for joints
Resist compression
Flexible support
What does elastic cartilage look like?
Elastic fibers in the matrix
Where is elastic cartilage found
Ears
Epiglottis
What does elastic cartilage do?
Flexible but maintains structure
What does fibrocartilage look like?
Thick collagen fibers in the matrix with chondrocytes interspersed
Where is fibrocartilage found?
Intervertebral discs
Pubic symphysis
Knee menisci
What does fibrocartilage do?
Absorb shock
Smooth tough support
What does compact bone look like?
Hard calcified matrix with Haversian canals containing an artery vein and nerve, canaliculi branching from the Haversian canal and osteocytes in the lacunae of the matrix
Where is the Haversian system located?
Compact bone
Where are osteocytes and osteoblasts found?
Spongy bone
What does compact bone do?
Provide stability
Allow for body movement
Allow for muscle attachment
What is blood composed of
Erythotrocytes (RBC)
Leukocytes (WBC)
Thromocytes (Platelets)
Plasma (matrix)
Where is blood found?
In blood vessels
Heart
What does blood do?
Transport gases, nutrients and waste
Transport hormones and chemical messengers
