Connective Tissue

Question 1

What are some of the general functions of connective tissue?

Answer 1

• mechanical + structural support
• supports + connects parts of body by 3-dimensional framework known as stroma
• separates tissues and organs

Question 2

What does stroma mean?

Answer 2

Greek for layer, bed covering

Question 3

Where does connective tissue originate from?

Answer 3

The mesodermal (middle layer) of the embryo

Question 4

What are the key functions of connective tissue?

Answer 4

Support
Movement
Protection
Fat (energy) storage

Question 5

What does loose connective tissue contain?

Answer 5

Few collagen and elastin fibres, more cells and ground substance

Question 6

How does loose connective tissues structure impact it?

Answer 6

It is less rigid and more easily distorted but the collagen means it still provides resistance when stretched and so it still a strong barrier

Question 7

What is another name given to loose connective tissue?

Answer 7

Areolar connective tissue

Question 8

What are some examples of loose connective tissue?

Answer 8

Mucosal and submucosal connective tissues of blood vessels, muscles, nerves and organs such as kidney and liver

Question 9

What is the structure and function of loose connective tissue?

Answer 9

Cell found in a network of collagen fibres

Loose packing, support, nourishment to associated structures, tissue sliding

Question 10

What does dense connective tissue consist of?

Answer 10

High fibre proportions with few cells and less ground substance in the extracellular matrix

Question 11

What are the two types of dense connective tissue and what is this dependant on?

Answer 11

Regular and Irregular
Depends on fibre alignment

Question 12

Where can dense connective tissue be found?

Answer 12

Tendons, ligaments, cornea of the eye, arteries

Question 13

What is the structure and function of dense connective tissues?

Answer 13

Matrix composed of collagen and elastin fibres

Tensile strength and stretch resistance

Question 14

What are the 3 types of cartilaginous tissue?

Answer 14

Hyaline, fibrocartilage, elastic cartilage

Question 15

What is the name given to cells in cartilage and what do they produce?

Answer 15

Chondrocytes, produce a matrix consisting of type ll collagen, glycoproteins and water

Question 16

Why is collagen flexible and bone not so much?

Answer 16

Cartilage does not contain calcium phosphate and bone does

Question 17

What is a similarity between cartilage and bone?

Answer 17

Both can be broken dow and renewed through life

Question 18

What is the structure and function of cartilaginous tissues?

Answer 18

Varies but usually all have poor blood supply

All provide flexibility with rididty, (Fibrocartilage can withstand lots of pressure)

Question 19

What are the two types of bone tissue?

Answer 19

Lamellar (compact)
Trabecular (spongy)

Question 20

Why is bone tissue hard?

Answer 20

It’s extracellular matrix contains calcium phosphate found as hydroxyapatite

Question 21

What is the structure and function of bone tissue?

Answer 21

Collagen network (provides tensile strength), Crystalline (compressive strength), Bone cells (helps maintain the bone)

Provides strength and support and can re-model itself accordingly

Question 22

What is an example of liquid connective tissue?

Answer 22

Blood tissue

Question 23

So, what are the 3 main components that make up the structure of connective tissues?

Answer 23

• Celles
• Collagen fibres
• Ground substance (special proteins)

Question 24

What separates cells in connective tissues and gives it its morphological and functional characteristics?

Answer 24

Extracellular matrix

Question 25

What helps with classifying connective tissues into subgroups?

Answer 25

The non-living extracellular matrix

Question 26

How are cells embedded in connective tissue named and what are some examples?
(which example is actually derived from monocytes/white blood cells)

Answer 26

They are named by the tissue that they help produce and maintain

Cartilage = chondrocytes
Bone = osteoblasts/osteocytes/osteoclasts (<monocytes)
Muscles = myocytes
Tendons = tenocytes (elongated fibrocytes)

Question 27

What does the extracellular matrix structure contain?

Answer 27

• Collagen (except blood) and elastin fibres
• Ground substances
• Water

Question 28

ECM - Collagen and Elastin Fibres
What is/are…
… collagen fibres
… reticular fibres
… elastin fibres

Answer 28

• strong and flexible fibres that lack elastic qualities, type l most common
• fine collagen type lll fibres that fill spaces between tissues and organs
• have elastic properties that vary depending on the tissue function

Question 29

What is ground substance and what does it include components wise?

Answer 29

Its a non-fibrous protein with other molecules that makes a shapeless gel-like substance that surround cells
Its components consist of: hylaronic acid and proteoglycans

Question 30

Is the extracellular matrix structure inert or dynamic?

Answer 30

Dynamic

Question 31

Why is the overall function of the extracellular matrix?

Answer 31

The structural support of cells, guiding their division, growth and development

Question 32

What produces the Extracellular Matrix Structure and how is their function identified?

Answer 32

Produced by specialist cells
Function identified by suffix at end of the name ie.
-blasts (creates extracellular matrix)
-cytes (maintains extracellular matrix)
-clasts (breaks down extracellular matrix for remodelling)

Question 33

When, where and what are the features of embryonic connective tissues?

Answer 33

When: formed during early embryonic development
Where: Primarily in umbilical cord
Features: Hydrophilic extracellular matrix structure, jelly-like, can also be known as mucoid connective tissue OR Wharton’s Jelly

Question 34

What are the two types of adipose tissue?

Answer 34

Brown - Heat store
White - Energy store

Question 35

What is the structure and function of adipose tissue?

Answer 35

Little extracellular matrix surrounding cells, cells full of lipids

Packing, protecting, insulation

Question 36

What is reticular connective tissue made of and what does it form?

Answer 36

Reticular and elastic fibres (predominant in irregular connective tissue)

reticular fibre (type lll collagen) = forms the storm of lymphoid systems
elastic fibres = inverter; disks and the wall of the aorta