Connective Tissue

Question 1

Functions of connective tissue

Answer 1

1) bind organs- tendons, ligaments
2) support - bones and cartilage
3) physical protection- cranium, ribs, sternum
4) immune protection
5) movement - bones are lever system
6) storage- of calcium, phosphorus, lipids/fats
7) heat- brown fat
8) transport- blood

Question 2

Connective tissue proper (fibrous connective tissue)

Answer 2

1) loose (many blood vessels)
- Areolar
- Reticular
2) Dense
-Regular
- Irregular
3) Adipose Tissue

Question 3

Special Connective Tissues

Answer 3

1) Supportive connective tissue
–> cartilage
A) hyaline
B) elastic
C) Fibrocartilage
–>Bone(sometimes parsed into compact and spongy)
2) Fluid connective Tissue
-Blood (sometimes lymph is treated as a separate tissue)

Question 4

Fibroblasts

Answer 4

Produce fibers, ground substance

Question 5

Macrophages

Answer 5

Phagocytose, activate immune system

Question 6

Leukocytes

Answer 6

1) Neutrophils- attack bacteria
2) lymphocytes -attack bacteria, toxins, foreign agents
3) plasma cells- produce antibodies

Question 7

Mast cells

Answer 7

Along blood vessels- produce heparin to prevent clotting

Question 8

Adipocytes

Answer 8

Stores triglycerides

Question 9

Collagenous fibers

Answer 9

1) 25% body’s protein
2) tough, resist stretch, pliable
3)tendons, ligaments, deep layers of skin

Question 10

Reticular fibers

Answer 10

1) coat your collagen with glycoproteins
2) structural framework for spleen, lymph nodes

Question 11

Elastic fibers

Answer 11

1) thin
2) Branch, rejoin
3) elastin protein- stretch and recoil

Question 12

Glycosaminoglycans, GAG, (Ground substance)

Answer 12

1) long polysaccharides joined by amino acids
2) regulate H2O, electrolyte balance
3) chondroitin sulfate
-specific GAG, most abundant
4) Heparin, hyaluronic acid are other GAGs

Question 13

Proteoglycans

Answer 13

1) huge, made of GAG and proteins linked together
2) form a colloid (think jello or gravy) to hold tissue together

Question 14

Features of Cartilage (3)

Answer 14

1) no blood vessels
-diffusion for nutrients/remove waste
-heals slowly
2) ground substance is a stiffer extracellular matrix rich in GAGs and collagen fibers
2)stiff connective tissues, flexible matrix
3) Ear, tip of Nose, larynx, many other places

Question 15

Chondroblasts ( cartilage)

Answer 15

Produce the extracellular matrix that ends up trapping them and become chondrocytes

Question 16

Chondrocytes (cartilage)

Answer 16

Mature cartilage cells trapped in “lacunae”

Question 17

Perichondrium (cartilage)

Answer 17

Sheath of dense irregular C.T. that surrounds elastic and hyaline (but not articular cartilage of adult joints)
-reserve population of chondroblasts

Question 18

Features of Bone

Answer 18

1) calcified connective tissue
-bone tissue- consists of cartilage, marrow, other tissue types all present
2) “osseous tissue” = bony tissue
-spongy bone
-compact bone

Question 19

“Osseous tissue” = bony tissue (features of Bone)

Answer 19

1) spongy bone - porous appearance, compact bone covers trabeculae, found in heads of long bones, middle of flat bones like sternum

2) compact bone - dense, no visible spaces, cells and matrix surround vertically oriented structure= shafts of long bones

3) periosteum - a fibrous sheath covering entire bone