connective tissue

Question 1

Describe the characteristics that define connective tissue and the common features of
connective tissue

Answer 1

Cells embedded in large quantities of extracellular matrix composed of protein fibres, amorphous
ground substance and tissue fluid.

Question 2

Describe the major functions of connective tissue

Answer 2

 Space filler and mechanical support.
 Attachment and protection
 Highway for nutrients
 Main fat store and calcium store
 Site of many immunological defence reactions

Question 3

Discuss the cell types that form connective tissue

Answer 3

soft connective tissue - Tendons, ligaments, mesentery, stroma of
organs, dermis of the
skin, etc

hard connective tissue - bone and cartilage

blood and lymph - specialised form

Question 4

what are the components of the connective tissue

Answer 4

cells
extracellular matrix

Question 5

what is the extracellular matrix

Answer 5

the space between the cells in the connective tissue

Question 6

what is the type of connective tissue determined by

Answer 6

the types and relative amount of cells and extracellular matix

Question 7

what cells are present in connective tissue

Answer 7

resident cells - fibroblasts and adipose cells

osteocytes - cells of bone
chondrocytes - cells of cartilage

Question 8

what are fibroblasts

Answer 8

elongated cells wiht tapered ends that are distributed and produce and maintain extracellular matrix

Question 9

what is the composition of the extra cellular matrix

Answer 9

mainly fibroblasts

Question 10

why are fibroblasts important in wound repair

Answer 10

they are able to divide after tissue damage

Question 11

what are adipose cells

Answer 11

fat cells - single giant fat droplet and with release of fatty acids into bloodstream which provides energy for other cells

Question 12

what is the largest store of energy in the body

Answer 12

adipose tissue

Question 13

where is the adipose tissue located around the body

Answer 13

subcutaneous layers help shape body, deposits in form of pads that act as a shock absorber

help to fill up space between tissue

Question 14

describe how wounds heal in terms of connective tissue

Answer 14

myofibroblast (cell between a fibroblast and smooth muscle cell) cause wound to contract by rpoducing collagen fibres and tugging on them to draw wound closed

Question 15

what are immigrant cells

Answer 15

leukocytes- commonly found in loose connective tissue, which migrate from blood stream and increase in number at sites of inflammation and infection

mast cells - originate from type of leukocyte, contain granules of heparin, histamine and substances that stimulate inflammation and attract white blood cells.

Question 16

what do leukocytes do

Answer 16

migrate from blood

1. neutrophils leave the blood stream in response to infection
   2.eosinophils are found in increased number during allergic reaction and parasitic diseases

Question 17

describe macrophages

Answer 17

derived from monocytes in bone marrow
circulate blood before migrating into connective tissue to rapidly transform into macrophages

can proliferate locally

Question 18

describe mast cells

Answer 18

largest cell in connective tissue

Question 19

describe lymphocytes

Answer 19

leukocytes that are widely scattered in connective tissue
appear as small nucleus with no cytoplasm

Question 20

plasma cells

Answer 20

• Rare in connective tissue - numerous at sites of infection.
• large oval cells rich in rER.
• basophilic cytoplasm are responsible for the synthesis of antibodies found in the blood stream.
  they neutralise harmful antigens, render toxins harmless, promote phagocytosis and as a result protect the body from micro-
  organisms.

Question 21

what are the transient cells in connective tissue

Answer 21

Fibroblast
Plasma cells
Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Erythrocytes

Question 22

how do you determine the type of connective tissue

Answer 22

the relative amounts of

fibres - collagen, reticular, elastic fibres
ground substances - amorphus, space occupying material mad eof unbranched polysaccharides (GAGS)
tissue fluid

Question 23

describe collagen fibres

Answer 23

most abundant protein in body
synthesised in fibroblasts and is formed from 3 polypeptide chains
inelastic
type 1 - tensile strength

Question 24

reticular fibres

Answer 24

thin made of a special type of collagen (type iii)
form support network in many organs

Question 25

elastic fibres

Answer 25

provide elasticity to tissue due to cross links between elastin molecules
mad eof protien elastin (rubberlike) and microfibril fibrillin and random coils
gives things recoil

Question 26

what is a ground substance

Answer 26

an amorphous, space occupying material made of huge unbranched polysaccharide molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), most of which are bound to protein cores to form glycoproteins
* Tissue fluid

Question 27

what are Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS)

Answer 27

linear polysaccharides formed by characteristic repeating disaccharide units.

help to give turgor and determine diffusion of substances through the
extracellular matrix.

Question 28

what are Proteoglycans

Answer 28

Proteoglycans trap water and act somewhat like a sponge. making structure resistant to compression

Question 29

Mesenchyme

Answer 29

embryonic connective
tissue that differentiates
into cells that become
fibroblasts, chondrocytes,
adipocytes and osteocytes
(also muscle).

Question 30

Loose tissue

Answer 30

Loosely packed fibres separated by abundant ground
substance. Cells are relatively plentiful.

Question 31

dense tissue

Answer 31

Densely packed bundles of collagen fibres. Can be dense
regular CT if the fibres are aligned (e.g. tendon) or dense
irregular CT if the fibre bundles run in many directions (e.g.
dermis of the skin).