Connective Tissue Flashcards
What is the most abundant and widely distributed tissue in the body?
Connective Tissue
What does CT consist of?
Cells, ground substance and fibers
What is the extracellular matrix composed of?
Ground substance and fibers
The matrix of CT may be in what forms?
fluid
semifluid
gelatinous
fibrous
calcified
What are immature cells called?
blasts
What are mature cells called?
cytes
What are the types of CT cells?
fibroblasts
macrophages
plasma cells
mast cells
adipocytes
neutrophils
What are fibroblasts in cartilage called?
chondroblasts
What are fibroblasts in bone called?
osteoblasts
What do macrophages do?
Engulf bacteria and cellular debris
What are the two types of macrophages?
fixed and wandering
What do plasma cells do?
They secrete antibodies and are part of the immune system.
What do mast cells do?
Produce histamine which dilates blood vessels.
What are adipocytes?
fat cells which store triglycerides
Where are adipocytes found?
below the skin and around organs such as heart and kidneys
What do neutrophils do?
They migrate to CT to combat pathogens
What is “ground substance”?
The part of CT between the fibers and cells
What does ground substance do?
holds water within the tissues.
Supports tissues and allows for diffusion of substances between blood vessels and cells.
What does ground substance contain?
polysaccharides and proteins
What is the matrix?
Consists of fibers embedded in ground substance
What are the 3 types of fibers make up the matrix?
collagen
elastic
reticular
How many types of collagen fibers are there?
28
(Type I is the most common)
Collagen is predominant in what tissues?
skin
bone
cartilage
tendons
ligaments
Collagen is resistant to what what force?
pulling force
Collagen can be physically described as?
very tough, resistant to pulling force, flexible
Type I collagen is often arranged how?
In bundles (like rope)
Elastic fibers are made of what?
The protein elastin surrounded by fibrillin
How much stretch can elastic fiber withstand?
150% of resting length
Where are elastic fibers found in the body?
skin, blood vessels, bladder wall, lung tissue
What is Marfan’s syndrome?
A genetic disorder of faulty elastic fiber production so tissues high in elastic fiber are weak.
Can die from weakened aorta that can suddenly rupture.
What are reticular fibers made from?
a single collagen molecule (type IV) collagen)
What does reticular fiber do?
provides support and strength
Where are reticular fibers found?
walls of blood vessels, around nerve fibers, skeletal and smooth muscle cells
Reticular fibers form the stroma (framework) of which soft organs?
lymph nodes, spleen and liver
What are the 3 types of mature CT?
Loose CT
Dense CT
Cartilage
What are the 3 types of loose CT
Areolar CT
Adipose tissue
Reticular CT
What is a widely distributed, filler type of CT?
Areolar CT
What type of CT glues one type of tissue to another?
Areolar CT
The subcutaneous layer or hypodermis is made up of what?
areolar tissue and adipose tissue
What are the 2 types of adipose tissue?
white fat
brown fat
Where is white fat found?
where ever areolar tissue is located
What is the function of white fat?
protection, insulation, energy storage
What does brown fat have?
A rich blood supply and numerous mitochondria
Who is brown fat extremely important for and why?
Newborns need brown fat for heat production as they have very little muscle
What type of CT forms part of the basement membrane?
Reticular CT
What is a major characteristic of loose CT?
Loosely woven fibers with many cells
What are 2 major characteristics of dense CT?
Thick, numerous and closely packed fibers
Fewer cells than loose CT
What are the 3 types of dense CT
dense regular CT
dense irregular CT
elastic CT
Collagen fibers regularly arranged in bundles is what type of CT?
dense regular CT
Where is dense regular CT found?
tendons, ligaments and aponeuroses
What kind of CT contains collagen fibers that have no regular arrangement?
dense irregular CT
What kind of CT is found in places in the body where forces are exerted in multiple directions?
dense irregular CT
What kind of CT usually occurs in sheets?
dense irregular CT
Where is dense irregular CT typically found?
dermis of the skin
facia
perichondrium
periosteum
joint capsules
heart valves
What kind of CT contains mostly freely branching elastic fibers?
elastic CT
Where is elastic CT usually found?
lungs
walls of elastic arteries (aorta)
Which type of CT can withstand the most stress?
cartilage
What does cartilage consist of?
dense network of fibers
chondroitin sulfate
What are the 3 types of cartilage?
hyaline cartilage
fibrocartilage
elastic cartilage
What is the most abundant type of cartilage?
hyaline cartilage
Where is hyaline cartilage found?
ends of long bones
costal cartilage
nose
larynx
trachea
bronchi
bronchial tubes
embryonic skeleton
What is the strongest type of cartilage?
fribrocartilage
What is the dense irregular CT covering the surface of cartilage?
perichondrium
What is the function of fibrocartilage?
strength
rigidity
shock absorption
Where is fibrocartilage found?
pubic symphysis
intervertebral discs
minisci of the knees
Does fibrocartilage have a perichondrium?
no
Where is elastic cartilage found?
epiglottis
external ear
auditory tubes
