Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

FLS histology > Connective tissue > Flashcards

Connective tissue Flashcards

1
Q

What is connective tissue?

A

A term given for a diverse and abundant supporting tissue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the functions of connective tissue?

A

Support other tissues:
Structural support e.g. bone
Strong fibrous connective tissues - tensile strength
Scaffold - support and bind tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the less rigid functions of connective tissue?

A

Elasticity - allows flexibility and recoil
Fat - cushioning, metabolism and energy storage
Blood - immune defence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is basic connective tissue?

A

Loose and dense connective tissue, non-specialised
Connective tissue proper

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the components of connective tissue?

A

Cells
Extracellular matrix: Ground substance and fibres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the types of fibres in extracellular matrix?

A

Elastin, collagen and reticular fibres
Fibres provide strength and durability to tissue.
Embedded in ground substance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is ground substance?

A

Clear viscous substance that fills space between cells and fibres
Contains glycosaminoglycan, proteoglycans, water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How does ground substance change?

A

Properties depends on the balance between cells and ECM fibres
Cells needing mechanical strength have lots of ECM fibres - ligaments, tendons, bones.
Needing protection or metabolism - more cells present - blood and adipose tissue.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are fibroblasts?

A

The main cell type in connective tissue proper.
Produce and maintain ECM and ground substance.
Spindle shaped cell, and cigar shaped nucleus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the function of fibroblasts?

A

Inactive form is fibrocyte
Activated myofibroblasts are involved in wound healing - fibrosis.
But can become chronically activated.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are adipocytes?

A

Fat cells, can be white or brown.
White adipocytes have a large hole in middle of cell, cytoplasm and nucleus pushed to periphery.
Has a cygnet ring appearance.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the fixed connective tissue cells?

A

Fibroblasts
Adipocytes
Fibrocytes
Macrophages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are macrophages?

A

Phagocytotic - immune function - engulf foregin material like bacteria and dead cells.
Derived from monocytes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What cells are found in specialised connective tissue?

A

E.g. in cartilage, bone, dentine:
Chondroblasts
Osteoblasts
Odontoblasts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are wandering connective tissue cells?

A

Migrate into connective tissue when needed - mostly immune cells:
Plasma cells
Eosinophils
Neutrophils
Lymphocytes
Mast cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are plasma cells?

A

Oval clock face
Nucleus
Actively produces antibodies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are eosinophils?

A

2 lobe nuclei
Involved in inflammatory reactions
Eosin stains mainly granules in this.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are neutrophils?

A

Mutlilobed nuclei
Phagocytic functions

19
Q

What are lymphocytes?

A

Round nucleus - plasma cells are mature lymphocytes, have a smaller cytoplasm.
Antibody production.
Specialised lympocytes are involved in protection against viruses.

20
Q

What are mast cells?

A

Produce histamine and heparin and bioactive substances which mediate inflammation.
Basophilic granules - stains purple not red.

21
Q

What is the structure of ground substance?

A

Transparent semi solid gel.
Amorphous - no clear shape, fills space between cells and fibres.
Fibres are embedded in ground substance.
Hyaluronic acid backbone.

22
Q

What does the hyaluronic acid backbone in ground substance contain?

A

Glycoproteins and complex carbohydrates - glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).
GAGs have negative side chains so are highly hydrophilic, binds water in ECM - has hydrated gel-like structure.
Water provides volume to the connective tissue and allows vessels to pass through.

23
Q

What does ground substance look like?

A

see image
The blue is ground substance

24
Q

What does elastin look like?

A

see image

25
Q

What is elastin?

A

Secreted as precursor tropoelastin.
Polymerises to become elastin
Requires glycoprotein fibrillin scaffold.
Can be made into fenestrated sheet called elastin lamella.

26
Q

What is the function of elastin?

A

Allows stretch and recoil to maintain shape.

27
Q

Where is elastin found?

A

Skin
Ears
Arteries
Lung
Bladder

28
Q

What is the function of collagen?

A

Main fibre type
Provides tensile strength
Can resist pulling and stretch to an extent but can break.

29
Q

How is collagen produced?

A

Secreted by fibroblasts as collagen, made into tropocollagen.
Triple helix structure
Aggregate into fibrils, can form collagen fibres.

30
Q

How does collagen differ from elastin?

A

Collagen is thicker than elastin and does not branch

31
Q

What does collagen look like?

A

see image
Collagen usually stained pink in H&E.
In Masson’s trichrome, elastin is red/pink, collagen is blue.

32
Q

What are the types of collagen?

A

Type 1 - Bone, skin, tendons, ligaments
Type 2 - Cartilage
Type 3 - Reticular fibres
Type 4 - Basement membrane
Be Cool Read Books

33
Q

What are reticular fibres?

A

Type 3 collagen
Delicate and thin
Form the framework of organs, glands and blood vessels.

34
Q

What do reticular fibres look like?

A

see image

35
Q

What is collagen type 4?

A

Found in basement membrane
Acts as a filter allowing only small molecules to pass
Not stained with H&E, but is stained with PAS.
Usually underlies epithelial cells but can surround muscle fibres and separate 2 sheets of cells.

36
Q

What is loose connective tissue?

A

Loosely and randomly arranged
Mostly ground substance and many cells present.

37
Q

What is the function of loose connective tissue?

A

Binds tissues
Allows diffusion
Allows nerve and blood vessels to pass freely through the tissue
E.g lamina propria

38
Q

What is lamina propria?

A

Immediately underlies certain epithelia - digestive, reproductive and respiratory tract (exposed to external environment).
Good for diffusion
But the extra space allows a good breeding ground for microbes so has many immune cells.

39
Q

What is dense irregular connective tissue?

A

Fewer cells and less ground substance.
More ECM fibres, randomly arranged.

40
Q

What is the function of dense irregular connective tissue?

A

Strong, withstands pressure from different directions.
E.g. the dermis

41
Q

What is dense regular connective tissue?

A

Fewer cells and less ground substance
Lots of ECM fibres, highly organised in parallel.
Allows for good tensile strength, resists force in one direction.
e.g. tendons and ligaments.

42
Q

What is the function of white adipose tissue?

A

Uniocular - looks like an eye
Specialised for storing energy
Stores and mobilises triglycerides
Structural - padding and shock absorbing, thermal insulator.

43
Q

What is brown adipose tissue?

A

Mutliocular - several lipid depositions within a cell.
Most common in newborn, but found in adults around kidney and adrenal gland.
Rich in mitochondria and capillaries.
Specialised for thermogenesis.

44
Q

What are genetic mutations in connective tissue?

A

Type 1 collagen - osteogenesis imperfecta
Type 2 - chondrodysplasia
Type 1, 3, 5 - Elhers Danlos syndrome
Fibrillin - Marfan’s syndrome

FLS histology (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions