Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

2 broad types of connective tissue

A
  1. Connective tissue proper- Dense and loose (areolar)

2. Specialized- Elastic and reticular

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2
Q

Characteristics of Dense CT (also called fibrous)

A
  • Can either be dense REGULAR (parallel orientation of collagen fibers) or dense IRREGULAR (lack of definite orientation)
  • Composed of collagen fibers arranged in bundles with elongated fibroblasts in between fibers and at their edges.
  • Offers resistance and protection.
  • Lack of open space, resulting in less flexibility
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3
Q

What does Dense CT form?

A

Dermis, Cornea, ligaments (bone to bone) and tendons (muscle to bone)

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4
Q

Loose (areolar) CT composition, functions, and features

A
  • Most common CT in the body
  • Composed of collagen, reticular and elastin fibers, fibroblasts, macrophages.
  • No specific orientation in terms of the fibers

Functions to fill space between muscle cells and supports the epithelial tissues such as the lamina propria and blood vessels.

Features:
Delicate in consistency, flexible, well-vascularized(will bleed a lot), and not very stress resistant(easy to deform).
Loose CT are usually areas that get swollen, puffy, or have edema.

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5
Q

What does loose CT form?

A

Eyelids, iris, stroma, choroid, ciliary body

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6
Q

Reticular CT (specialized) composition and locations

A
  • Delicate, loose connective tissue
  • Forms a sponge like network allowing blood cells and fluids to travel through.
  • Composed of reticular fibers and fibroblasts.

Located in hematopoietic and lymphoid organs such as bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.

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7
Q

Elastic CT (specialized) composition, function, and locations

A

-Similar to dense regular CT, but with high proportion of elastic fibers.

Functions to allow recoil of tissues and stretch- arteries with high pressure blood flowing through or lungs/bladder which expands.

Composition: Rich in thick, parallel elastic fibers with collagen fibers and flattened fibroblasts between.

Located in aorta, lungs, bladder.

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8
Q

Most common cells in connective tissue

A

Fibroblasts

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9
Q

Function of fibroblasts

A

Produce the components of the extracellular matrix. The components are produced inside the cell and released via exocytosis.

To do this, they contain many mitochondria, abundant rER and golgi

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10
Q

Fibroblasts release which proteins in order to form type 1 collagen fibers and elastin fibers?

A

Tropocollagen- protein released to form collagen type 1

Proelastin and fibrilin- proteins released to form elastin fibers

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11
Q

Fibrocytes

A

Dormant version of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts become fibrocytes after producing the CT. If the CT is damaged, they can reactivate and fill the injured space.

Fibrocytes can also become myofibroblasts, which contain actin and myosin filaments. These filaments can help to pull the edges of wounds together and promote healing

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12
Q

Myofibroblasts

A

A type of fibroblasts that contain actin and myosin filaments. These filaments can help to pull the edges of wounds together and promote healing if CT is damaged.

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13
Q

Macrophage

A

Phagocytosis, APC, break down of tissues that are no longer needed. Irregular shape

Ex of tissue they break down before birth- hyaloid artery that gives nutrients to the lens of an unborn baby. Before the baby is born, macrophages break down the artery.

If the hyaloid artery is not broken down, it could cause an obstruction to vision if blocking macula and cause a mittendorf spot (where hyaloid artery connects to lens.

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14
Q

Hyaloid artery

A

Artery that connects to the lens in an unborn baby to supply it with nutrients. Is broken down before birth by macrophages. If not broken down (could be due to genetics), then it could cause an obstruction to vision.

mittendorf spot can be detected during eye exams- (where hyaloid artery connects to lens)

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15
Q

Mittendorf spot

A

Where hyaloid artery remains connect to lens

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16
Q

Mast cells contain

A

Many secretory granules including histamine, heparin, and eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A)

Releases these during an inflammatory response.

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17
Q

Plasma cells

A

Are formed after B cells are activated. Production and release of Ab

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18
Q

Adipose cells and types

A

Scattered within connective tissue. Similar to fibroblast, except that it accumulates fat in the cytoplasm.

Unilocular adipose cell- Single droplet of fat and all the cell contents are pushed to the side.
Multilocular- Multiple fat droplets

19
Q

Most common collagen type in the body

A

Type 1. They make up much of the extracellular matrix and many connective tissues.

20
Q

How are collagen fibers produced

A

Tropocollagen produced by fibroblasts form into fibrils extracellularly. Many fibers create fibrum and the space between is ground substance. The fibrum and ground substance make up collagen.

21
Q

Type II collagen

A

Less organized. Found in cartilage.

22
Q

Type IV collagen

A

Assembles in a meshwork that builds basal lamina throughout the body.

23
Q

Reticular fibers

A

Specialized type of collage fibers that form into a network instead of bundles.

  • Smaller in diameter than type 1 collagen.
  • Prevents rupture
  • Often found near basal lamina, anchors fibrils of type VII collagen to reticular fibers.
24
Q

Three types of fibers of connective tissue

A

Collagen, Reticular fibers, and elastic fibers

25
Q

Elastic fibers

A

Composed of elastin and fibrillin proteins.
-Elastin is at the center of the fiber and fibrillin forms microfibrils which surround the core. This stretches easily with tension.

26
Q

Fibrillin without elastin

A

Can form oxytalan fibers. Non-elastic form, but creates suspensory ligaments of the lens. Zonules.

27
Q

What fiber creates the zonules of the lens

A

Oxytalan, which is fibrillin protein that forms microfibrils. This is non-elastic, which is good for making sure the lend doesn’t bounce around.

28
Q

Ground substance

A
  • Fills the space between fibers and cells in the connective tissue
  • High in water content. Transparent.
  • Contains glycoasminoglycans, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins.
29
Q

What components are in blood

A

Plasma and formed elements. Formed elements- RBC, WBC, and platelets (thrombocytes)

30
Q

What is within plasma

A

water, proteins (albumin, fibrinogen, immunoglobulins, and macromolecules)

31
Q

Role of albumin in the plasma

A

Helps maintain osmotic pressure and homeostasis. Since it is such a large protein, wherever it goes, water will follow.

If pt needs to use eye drops frequently and wants to avoid preservatives or is allergic, eye drops can be made from pt’s albumin. It is most similar to pt’s pH and will bend in better with the tear film.

32
Q

erythrocytes

A
  • No nucleus or organelles
  • contains 4 polypeptides of hemoglobin, which helps transport oxygen and carbon dioxide.
  • biconcave molecule.
  • 4 to 6 million per microliter
33
Q

Leukocytes- 2 categories

A

Spherical, travel in blood stream and enter CT by diapedesis.

2 categories- granulocytes or granulocytes.

Granulocytes- contain secretory granules in the cytoplasm and multi-lobed nuclei. Neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils

Agranulocytes- WBC without granules in cytoplasm. Lymphocytes (B and T cells) and monocytes (precursor to macrophages)

34
Q

Three granulocytes

A

Neutrophil, basophil, and eosinophils

35
Q

2 types of agranulocytes

A

Lymphocytes (B and T cells) and monocytes, which are precursors to macrophages

36
Q

Neutrophil role

A

Phagocytic function

37
Q

Basophil role

A

Secrete histamine and other Inflammatory factors in response to antigens.

38
Q

Eosinophil role

A

Release enzymes and proteins that attach parasites that are too large to be phagocytized.

Inhibit degranulation of mast cells and basophils.
Phagocytize antibody-antigen complexes

39
Q

Platelets are also called

A

Thrombocytes

40
Q

Role of platelets

A

Form the platelet plug when endothelium is damaged. Help forms blood clots when larger injuries occur.

41
Q

Two types of supportive connective tissue

A

Mucous tissue and adipose tissue

42
Q

Mucous tissue

A

A type of supportive connective tissue.

Jelly-Like tissue, primarily made of fibroblasts. Found in the umbilical cord and the pulp of young teeth.

43
Q

Adipose tissue

A

A type of supportive connective tissue that stores energy as fat and makes up 15-25% of the body weight. (distribution varies per gender)
Thermal insulation for the body.
Composed of adipocytes that are divided into lobules- either unilocular or multilocular.

44
Q

Difference between unilocular and multilocular

A

Uni- the fat is in a single dropout and the remainder of the cytoplasm and cell nucleus are pushed to the periphery. Signet ring appearance. Forms common, yellow adipose tissue found in adults.

Multi- Multiple lipid droplets in the cytoplasm. Forms brown adipose tissue that provides fat store and heat for infants. Few found in adult.