Connective Tissue Flashcards
2 broad types of connective tissue
- Connective tissue proper- Dense and loose (areolar)
2. Specialized- Elastic and reticular
Characteristics of Dense CT (also called fibrous)
- 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
What does Dense CT form?
Dermis, Cornea, ligaments (bone to bone) and tendons (muscle to bone)
Loose (areolar) CT composition, functions, and features
- 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.
What does loose CT form?
Eyelids, iris, stroma, choroid, ciliary body
Reticular CT (specialized) composition and locations
- 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.
Elastic CT (specialized) composition, function, and locations
-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.
Most common cells in connective tissue
Fibroblasts
Function of fibroblasts
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
Fibroblasts release which proteins in order to form type 1 collagen fibers and elastin fibers?
Tropocollagen- protein released to form collagen type 1
Proelastin and fibrilin- proteins released to form elastin fibers
Fibrocytes
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
Myofibroblasts
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.
Macrophage
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.
Hyaloid artery
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)
Mittendorf spot
Where hyaloid artery remains connect to lens
Mast cells contain
Many secretory granules including histamine, heparin, and eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis (ECF-A)
Releases these during an inflammatory response.
Plasma cells
Are formed after B cells are activated. Production and release of Ab