Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

What is the extra cellular matrix (ECM) composed of?

A

structural fibers
fibrous proteins
Ground substance

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2
Q

What is the epimysium?

A

prominent and thick outer covering of muscles

- type of deep fascia

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3
Q

What are 5 examples of connective tissue?

A
  1. epimysium
  2. ligaments
  3. tendons
  4. capsules
  5. cartilage
  6. bone
  7. superficial fascia
  8. deep fascia
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4
Q

What are 3 functions of connective tissue?

A
  1. mechanical strength/ support for specialized tissues in organs
  2. Conduct and control exhange of nutrients, metabolites and signaling ligands
    - different cell types in an organ
    - cell types and blood vessels
  3. Control behavior and function of cells in contact with ECM
    - polarization and shape of epithelia
    - guidance/ regulation of cell migration thru matrix
    - proliferation, metabolism, differentiation
    - defense against infection
    - tissue formation, organization, modification
    - inflammation, repair due to injury
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5
Q

What are the two types of cells in the ECM?

A

Core resident cells of CT family

Immigrant blood derived cells (mostly WBCs)

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6
Q

What are the 7 types of core cells of the ECM and what are their functions?

A
  1. Mesenchymal
    - precursors of all connective tissue
    - embryogenesis & adult stem cells
  2. Fibroblasts
    - most common in CT
  3. Myofibroblasts
    - from fibroblasts
    - contractile function
  4. Adipocytes
    - store fat as energy
  5. Osteoblasts & osteocytes
    - make bone
  6. Chondrocytes
    - make cartilage
  7. SOME smooth muscle
    - walls of blood vessels
    - can synthesize and secrete ECM components
    - wound healing
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7
Q

What are 5 types of immigrant blood derived cells and what are their functions?

A
  1. Lymphocytes
    - acquired immunity
  2. Macrophage
    - engulfing/ phagocytosing cells
    - secrete and respond to many extra cellular signals
  3. Neutrophils and eosinophils
    - defense against microorganisms
  4. Mast cells
    - secretory
    - promote swelling, allergic reactions
  5. Osteoclasts
    - phagocytic: bone reabsorption and remodeling
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8
Q

Name 3 functions of macrophages

A
  • angiogenesis
  • immune cell migration/ function
  • fibroblast activation
  • blood vessel permeability
  • remodel damaged tissues
  • remodel developing tissue/ organs
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9
Q

How do fibroblasts respond to tissue injury?

A

proliferate

severe injury: scar tissue = hypertrophy of fibroblast dependent connective tissue

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10
Q

How do fibroblasts contribute to the ECM?

A

several types

  • responsible for enormous variation in ECM structure/ function
  • IDd by immunohistological methods
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11
Q

Where do mesenchymal stem cells originate? What type of cells do they produce?

A

Bone marrow

NOT hematopoietic -> primary precursors of CT cells

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12
Q

Describe the structure and function of collagen. Why is it so diverse?

A
most abundant
3 intertwined polypeptide chains =>rigid triple helix
  (alpha chain)
- 25 different alpha chains 
- 17 multimeric collagen types
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13
Q

How does fibrillar collagen assemble?

A

align head to tail in large bundles => fibrils

  • stack bundles -> thickness
  • strength
  • resistance to tensile forces
  • Banding pattern

MOST ABUNDANT (especially type I)

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14
Q

What type of collagen links fibrils together, and links collagen fibers to other tissues?

A

Fibril associated collagen

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15
Q

What does network-forming collagen do?

A

form thin fibers -> assemble as interlaced fibers -> form porous sheets

  • found in basal laminae
  • form filtration barriers
  • Type IV
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16
Q

What are some important properties of ligaments and tendons?

A
  • collagen arranged in parallel organized sheets

- resist strong shear forces

17
Q

What are some of the intracellular modifications of collagen?

A
  • synthesized on ER -> translocated to ER lumen
  • glycosylated and hydroxylated
  • assembled into triple helix
18
Q

What are some of the extracellular modifications of collagen?

A
  • form bundles & end to end polymers
  • enzymes catalyze covalent cross links to increase tensile strength of bundles

N and C terminus cleaved by specific proteases
N -> N-telo peptides
- clinically important: levels (urine & blood) diagnose connective tissue/ bone disease

19
Q

Describe elastic fibers: where are they found? What are they made of? etc.

A

Found in CT that must distend/ be resilient
Made of elastin and fibrilin

  • elastin: usually random coil conformation, secreted by fibroblasts
  • form extracelluar sheets that are highly crosslinked => extensive network

elastin network + fibrilin (organizer)
=> blend within other ECM elements
- stretch and recoil like rubber band

20
Q

What is the ground substance of the ECM made of?

A

proteoglycans
secreted proteins and glycoproteins
inorganic and small organic solutes (ions, carbohydrates, lipid vesicles, non-protein signaling ligands)
water

21
Q

What are proteoglycans?

A

Protein core + large acidic polysaccharides (GAGs)

  1. highly negatively charged => hydrophilic
  2. rigid exteded structure => readily form gels
  3. can bind and activate or inactivate other proteins
  • function as selective sieves (pores of various sizes)

Hydration facilitates:

  • diffusion
  • high swelling (turgor)- resist compression - knee
22
Q

What is the sequence of events following a wound/ injury in the context of connective tissue?

A
  1. Inflamation & blood clotting
  2. New tissue formation
  3. Tissue remodeling
23
Q

What happens during the inflammation and blood clotting response?

A
  • blood platelets released from CT- temp. seal on wound
  • water permeability increased -> swelling
  • increased permeability to monocytes -> immune
  • WBC attracted/ migrate to site
  • Histamine- permeability of endothelia
  • cytokines-> stimulate WBC production
24
Q

What happens during the new tissue formation phase?

A
  • firbroblasts divide -> secrete ECM components
  • epithelial stem cells divide
  • signals for angiogenesis, repair
25
Q

What happens during the tissue remodeling phase?

A

Cell composition, CT and epithelia altered depending on severity of wound
- remodeling may be imperfect => disorganized epithelia/ CT