Connective Tissue

Question 1

Connective Tissue Function

Answer 1

• Matrix serves as structural support and connects tissues and cells together to form organs
• Metabolic support-diffusion of nutrients, waste products
• defense against foreign objects
• regulates cell-cell signaling by binding signaling molecules
• composed mostly of extracellular material with few cells

Question 2

Mesenchymal cells

Answer 2

• undifferentiated cells that produce all types of tissue, contain stem cells
• Give rise to
  
  • Fibroblasts
  • Lipoblasts

Question 3

Fibroblasts

Answer 3

• most common cells in connective tissue
• produce and maintain collagen to form fibers
• synthesize and secrete components of ground substance
  *

Question 4

Lipoblasts

Answer 4

• give rise to adipocytes
• tissue with large population of adipocytes also serves to cushion and insulate

Question 5

Macrophages

Answer 5

• removal of dead cells, tissue debris, bacteria, foreign objects
• can activate immune response, secrete enzymes to breakdown tissues and GF’s to promote repair and healing

Question 6

Mast Cells

Answer 6

• immune cell that stores chemical mediators for localized immune response and tissue repair
• in blood vessels, tissue lining digestive, respiratory tract

Question 7

Extracellular Matrix

Answer 7

• Differs from basement membrane in specialization
• contains collagen and elastin embedded in gel composed of proteoglycans, water, glycoproteins that bind to matrix proteins and membrane proteins

Question 8

Collagen Fibers

Answer 8

• Extremely strong, resistant to tears, most abundant in body
• Multiple types: Fibrillar (ECM), network or sheet forming (basement membrane), Linking/Anchoring(basement membrane)
• Dermis, organ capsules, tendons, ligaments

Question 9

Reticular Fibers

Answer 9

• Delicate network of fibers that provide supportive stroma for bone marrow, lymph nodes, organs (liver, spleen)

Question 10

Elastic Fibers

Answer 10

• Form sparse networks interspersed with collagen bundles in tissue subject to stretching, bending
• Lungs, aorta, blood vessels

Question 11

Answer 11

Loose areolar

• wraps and cushions organs, macrophages phagocytize bacteria, inflammation
• under epithilia, forms lamina propria of mucous membranes, packages organs, surrounds capillaries

Question 12

Answer 12

Loose Adipose

• reserve food fuel, insulates against heat loss, supports and protects organs
• under skin, kidneys, eyeballs, abdomen, breasts

Question 13

Answer 13

Loose Reticular

• Stroma supports WBC’s, mast cels, macrophages
• lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen

Question 14

Answer 14

Dense Regular

• attaches muscles to bones or to muscles, bones to bones, withstands stress in one direction
• tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses

Question 15

Answer 15

Dense Irregular

• Withstands tension in many directions
• Organs, joints, dermis of skin, submucosa of digestive tract