Connective Tissue Flashcards
what are the functions of connective tissue
- Connect epithelium to the rest of the body (basal lamina)
- Provide a route for blood supply, lymph and nerves
- Provide compartments and capsule protection for organs – allow independent
movement of organs and muscle - Provide structure (ligaments, tendons & bone)
- Store energy (fat)
- Transport materials (blood, defense cells)
* CT has no contact with the environment
Explain the matrix of connective tissue
- extracellular components of connective tissues (fibres and ground substance) make up the matrix
- makes up the majority of tissue volume
- determines specialized function
what does connective tissue proper do
- Connect and protect (adipose, tendons, ligaments)
- Subdivided into loose and dense CT proper
what does fluid connective tissues do
Transport (blood and lymph)
what does supportive connective tissue do
structural strength (bones, cartilages)
what are fibroblasts
- The most abundant cell type:
- found in all connective tissue proper
- secrete proteins and hyaluronan
(cellular cement, a polysaccharide derivative)
what are fibrocytes
- found in all connective tissue proper
maintain the fibres of connective tissue proper
What are Adipocytes (fat cells)
- contains a single, large lipid droplet
- Cell content (nucleus, organelles, cytoplasm) are
squeezed to side - Number of adipocytes varies from one type of
connective tissue to another, from one region of the
body to the another, and among individuals
What are Mesenchymal cells (stem cells)
- Respond to local injury or infection
What do melanocytes do
Synthesis and store brown pigment melanin
Mast Cells - HISTAMINE
Histamine – released after injury or infection; stimulates local inflammation
Mast cells - HEPARIN
anticoagulant that enhances blood flow
during inflammation; reduces the development of blood clots
What are lymphocytes
Migrate throughout the body
* Tissue damage causes increase in number
* Some develop into plasma cells which produce antibodies
Explain collagen fibres
- Most common fibers in connective tissue proper
- Long, straight, and unbranched
- Strong and flexible – rope like
- Resist force in one direction
- For example, in tendons and ligaments
Explain Reticular fibres
- Network of interwoven fibers (stroma)
- Strong and flexible
- Resist force in many directions
- Stabilize functional cells (parenchyma of the spleen) and structures
- For example, in sheaths/capsules around organs
Explain Elastic Fibres
- Contain elastin
- Branched and wavy
- Return to original length after stretching
- For example, elastic ligaments of vertebrae
Explain Loose Connective Tissue
- Fill spaces between organs
- Support epithelia
- Cushion and stabilise specialised cells in organs
- Surround and support blood vessels and nerves
- Store lipids
- Provide route for diffusion
What are the 3 types of loose ct
- Areolar tissue
- Adipose tissue
- Reticular tissue
what is areolar ct
- Least specialised connective tissue in adults
- Has an open framework – can distort without damage because its fibres are loosely
organised - Contains elastin fibres
- CT just under epithelium of skin
- Allows independent movement of skin and underlying structures (e.g. muscle)
- Capillaries deliver oxygen and nutrients, and remove carbon dioxide and waste
products
what is adipose tissue
- Provides padding, absorbs
shocks - Serves as packing or filler
around structures - Acts as an insulator to slow
heat loss through skin - Role in energy storage
what is dense connective tissue
– created mostly from fibres
* Tightly packed with high numbers of collagen or elastic fibers
what is dense REGULAR ct
- Tightly packed, parallel collagen fibers
- tendons, ligaments and aponeuroses
explain ligaments
- connect bone to bone and stabilize organs
explain tendons
- Cords of dense regular connective tissue
- Attach muscles to bones
explain aponeuroses
- attach in sheets to large, flat muscles
- Associated with large muscles of the skull, lower back, and
abdomen
Explain dense IRREGULAR ct
- Interwoven networks of collagen fibers with no consistent pattern
- Gives strength to the deep layer of the skin (the dermis)
- Layered in skin
- Around cartilages (perichondrium)
- Around bones (periosteum)
- Form capsules around some organs (e.g., liver, kidneys)
