Connective Tissue Flashcards
Connective tissue is?
Vascular ( it has a rich blood supply)
Connective tissue consists of two basic elements
Extracellular matrix and cells.
Two major components of Extracellular matrix of connective tissue are
The ground substance and fibers ( three types)
Three types of fibers
Collagen fibers, elastic fibers and reticular fibers
Collagen fibers
Very strong and resist pulling forces. Not stiff which allows tissue flexibility
Elastic fibers
Smaller in diameter than collagen fibers, branch and join together to form a fibrous network within a connective tissue
Reticular fibers
Arranged in fine bundles, support in the walls of blood vessels and form a network around the cells in some tissues.
Reticular fibers form the what of many soft organs
Stroma
What forms the stroma of many soft organs
Reticular fibers