Connective Tissue Flashcards
Describe a Connective tissue
- most abundant and widely distributed type of tissue in the body
- Each type of connective tissue consists of Cell + extracellular matrix
- extracellular matrix and consists of protein fibers and ground substance
- highly vascular (has a blood supply) as well as a nerve supply
- the exception is cartilage and tendons (dense regular connective tissue)
What is the function of Connective Tissue
- Due to the wide variety it performs many different functions:
- Supports, strengthens and binds tissues together (ligaments and tendons)
- Protects internal organs (bones)
- Divides organs into smaller sections
- Insulates the body and serves as long-term energy reserves (adipose tissue = fat)
- Main location of our Immune responses
What is the stem cell of the connective tissue?
Mesenchyme
What is the function of fibroblasts?
Secrete fibers and components of ground substance
What is the function of white blood cells?
- Provide an Immune response to destroy pathogens
- Macrophages and Neutrophils
- Engulf bacteria and cellular debris by phagocytosis - Plasma cells
- Secrete specific antibodies that attach to pathogens - Mast cells
- Produce histamine that causes inflammation
- Macrophages and Neutrophils
What is the function of adipocytes?
Store triglycerides (fat) for long-term energy storage
What are the three types of fiber?
Elastic, reticular, and collagen
Describe elastic fibers and where are they found?
- Found in blood vessels, ears, and lungs
- smaller in size, formed from protein elastin surrounded by glycoprotein (fibrillin)
- Elastic recoil: can be stretched without breaking and return to their original shape after being stretched
Describe collagen fibers and where are they found?
-found in about 25% of the body
-Are very large and strong,
resist pulling forces but provide flexibility to the tissue
Describe reticular fibers and where are they found?
- found in the spleen and lymph nodes
- Generally form a “net-like” structure throughout the tissue to form a framework for soft organs as well as the basement membrane of epithelial tissues
Describe the ground substance
- This is the substance located between the cells and functions to support and bind cells together, store water, and allow exchange of nutrients and waste products between blood and cells
- It varies from a fluid, semi-fluid, gelatinous, or calcified consistency
- It is a complex combination of proteins and polysaccharides
What are the three types of loose connective tissue?
-Areolar, Adipose, and reticular
Describe areolar or loose connective tissue
Located between the skin and underlying tissue (hyperdermis), can fill with fluid or adipose tissue
Describe Adipose tissue
Insulates the body, long-term energy storage and acts as a shock absorber or cushion to protect organs
Describe reticular tissue
Forms a net-like structure within soft organs to support the organ or filter substances
What are the three types of dense connective tissue
Regular, irregular, and elastic
What is the function of dense regular tissue
Contains collagen fibers arranged in organized, parallel strands to provide strong connections between organs like muscles and bones (found in tendons and ligaments)
What is the function of dense irregular tissue
Contains collagen fibers are NOT well organized, fibers extend in all directions and provide support and strength to tissues
-found in deep dermis
What is the function of elastic tissue
Contains elastic protein fibers that can stretch and recoil
What are the three types of cartilage?
Hyaline, fibro, and elastic
What is the function of Hyaline cartilage?
-This is the most abundant type of cartilage, generally found at the ends of bones forming a smooth surface for joint movement
What is the function of fibrocartilage?
-This is the strongest type of cartilage, containing large amounts of collagen fibers
What is the function of elastic cartilage?
-This type of cartilage contains large amounts of elastic protein fibers that give support and helps to maintain the shape of the tissue
Describe bone tissue
This is the most dense of the connective tissue types, consisting of a calcified matrix (for strength) and collagen fibers (for flexibility)
Describe liquid connective tissue
This is the least dense of the connective tissue types, consisting of a very fluid-like matrix and very few protein fibers and functions to transport substances in the body
- blood–> located in blood vessels
- lymph –> located in lymphatic vessels
Describe nerve tissue
- Cell types – neurons and neuroglia (supporting cells; more later)
- Functional classification: motor, sensory, and interneurons
- Structural classification: unipolar, bipolar, multipolar
- long cell processes conduct nerve signals
What are the three types of muscle?
- skeletal, cardiac, smooth
- Skeletal is voluntary and contains adherens and desmosomes
- Cardiac and smooth muscle contain gap junctions, adherens, and desmosomes
Describe membranes as an organ system
Epithelial layer sitting on a thin layer of connective tissue (the lamina propria = “near layer”)
Types of membranes
mucous membrane- found in eyes, nose, mouth, prevents pathogens and bacteria from entering the body
serous membrane-surround heart (pericardium) surround thoracic cavity (pleural) surround abdominal cavity (periosteom) intestine (mesentary)
synovial membrane– cushions joints
cutaneous membrane (skin)– protects skin
Describe membranes as an organ system
Epithelial layer sitting on a thin layer of connective tissue (the lamina propria = “near layer”)
Types of membranes
mucous membrane- found in eyes, nose, mouth, prevents pathogens and bacteria from entering the body
serous membrane-surround heart (pericardium) surround thoracic cavity (pleural) surround abdominal cavity (peritoneum) intestine (mesentery)
synovial membrane– cushions joints
cutaneous membrane (skin)– protects skin
