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Histology > Connective Tissue > Flashcards

Connective Tissue Flashcards

(94 cards)

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1
Q

What are the four basic categories of cell in the body

A

Connective tissue

Nerve tissue

Muscle tissue

Epithelial tissue

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2
Q

Supporting tissue is derived from which embryonic layer

A

Mesoderm

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3
Q

What are connected tissue cells responsible for

A

The synthesis and maintenance of extracellular matrix

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4
Q

What are the four types of connective tissue cells

A

Fibroblast

Adipocyte

Chondroblast and chondrocyte

Osteoblast and osteocyte

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5
Q

What is the most common connective-tissue cell

A

Fibroblast

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6
Q

What does a fibroblast look like and light microscopy

A

an elongated nucleus is usually the only visible structure

It can be difficult to distinguish other components due to the thickness of the cell and its fusiform shape tapering towards both ends

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7
Q

What do you electron micrographs of mature fibroblasts look like

A

They show an elongated cell with a prominent nucleus and a scanty cytoplasm rich in rough ER

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8
Q

Fibroblasts have a cytoplasm rich in rough ER. What does this reflect about the fibroblast’s role

A

It has a role in protein synthesis and secretion

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9
Q

When activated what do fibroblasts give rise to in muscle

A

Myofibroblasts which have contractile function and play a role in tissue repair, defence and immunity

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10
Q

What are the rules of white adipocytes

A

Energy storage

Protective cushioning

Thermal insulation

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11
Q

How do you white adipocytes store fat

A

As a single lipid droplets occupies most of the cell, compressing and displacing the nucleus to one side

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12
Q

What does a white adipocyte look like?

A

Has a sparse cytoplasm which is peripherally distributed as a thin layer around the lipid droplet

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13
Q

How are white adipocytes distributed

A

They can be found on their own throughout loose and dense connective tissue or forming a solid tissue with very little intercellular material between them

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14
Q

How do brown adipocytes store fat

What do these cells look like

A

As numerous lipid droplets

They have a large nucleus, numerous mitochondria whose cytochromes account for the brown colour and are smaller than white adipocytes

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15
Q

Which organisms tend to have lots of brown adipocytes

A

Neonates and hibernating mammals

They have a key role in heat generation and body temperature regulation in such organisms

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16
Q

What do chondroblasts and chondrocytes do

A

Secrete and maintain the extracellular matrix of cartilage

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17
Q

What do osteoblasts and osteocytes do

A

Maintain the extracellular matrix of bone

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18
Q

Describe the extracellular matrix

A

And organised meshwork of protein and polysaccharide molecules that fill the space between cells

It also participates in the regulation of cell differentiation, growth, shape, proliferation and migration

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19
Q

How is the extracellular matrix synthesised and secreted

A

By fibroblasts

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20
Q

What are the two components of extracellular matrix

A

Fibrous proteins e.g. collagen and elastin

Ground substance, a hydrated amorphous polysaccharide gel in which the fibrous proteins are embedded

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21
Q

What is the most abundant protein in the body and what does it provide

A

Collagen

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22
Q

What is the precursor of collagen

A

Tropocollagen / procollagen

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23
Q

Where does assembly of tropocollagen into long collagen fibres occur

A

Extracellularly

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24
Q

How many types of collagen are there and which is the most abundant

A

There are four types with type one being 90% of the total amount

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25
Where is type II collagen found
It consists of fine fibres embedded in cartilage matrix
26
Where is Type III collagen found
Skin and round blood vessels
27
Where is type IV collagen found
It forms a meshwork of fine fibres and is the main component of epithelial basement membranes
28
How does collagen appear in LM
As an acidophilic mesh Collagen molecules can only be seen as bundles, If they do not form a bundle they cannot be distinguished from the surrounding ground substance except by immunohistochemistry
29
Describe the appearance of collagen one fibres under the EM
They have a striations at intervals of 67 mm along the length This periodicity reflects the staggering of tropocollagen molecules in the fibres
30
What do elastic fibres consist of
And amorphous glycoprotein called elastin and numerous proteinaceous microfibrils that become embedded in the elastin
31
What synthesises elastin
It is synthesised in the fibroblasts as a precursor called tropoelastin
32
What secretes the ground substance of the extracellular matrix What does the aqueous phase of it allow
It is secreted primarily by fibroblasts and consists mostly of glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan The diffusion of salts, nutrients, hormones and metabolites between blood and tissue cells
33
What are proteoglycans composed of
A core protein to which straight-chain polymers of repeating sugar heterodimers are covalently attached These sugars differ giving different classes of proteoglycans They are negatively charged and take on an extended form in tertiary structure
34
The extracellular matrix contains glycoproteins. What are these?
Proteins to which she also branched oligosaccharide chains are covalently pound the glycoproteins of ground substance are much smaller than proteoglycans
35
Give examples of Glycoproteins in ground substance
Laminin (A component of basement membrane is that mediate attachment of epithelial cells) Fibronectin (A component which promotes cell adhesion)
36
True or false: Ground substance is simply there to fill up the space
False It contributes to the physical properties of the tissue Ground substances orientate cells during development, control diffusion and are involved in healing and repair
37
Describe loose connective tissue
The fibres (mostly collagen) are sparse ( 10–20% by volume) and the ground substance fairly fluid, providing ample opportunity for functional cellular growth and differentiation as well as space for considerable transient populations of white blood cells in places such as the gut epithelium
38
Describe dense connective tissue
In some places, usually wear a polo or an expansion has to be resisted, the proportion of college and increases and a higher density of fibre is found In places such as tendons and ligaments college and contribution can rise to 90% or more
39
Describe elastic connective tissue
This shows a preponderance of elastic fibres and is found in the long Alviola sector, skin the wall of the year and your brother on the walls of the arteries As tissues age the elastic content decreases
40
Why does skin wrinkle with age
As tissues age the elastic content decreases
41
What are chondroblasts
Connective tissue cells that produce the cartilage extracellular matrix consisting of connective-tissue fibres (mainly collagen and elastic fibres,) in the various proportions and abundant ground substance rich in proteoglycans Secretion of the matrix traps the chondrocytes, separating them
42
What is most cartilage surrounded By
A layer of irregular collagenous connective-tissue called perichondrium This also contains some inactive fibrocytes
43
What happens to the inactive fibrocytes in perichondrium
They can become chondroblasts in the inner surface The Chondroblasts can grow, divide and produce new cartilage matrix
44
Which are more mature: | chondrocytes or chondroblasts
Chondrocyte are more mature
45
Where are chondrocytes found What are they responsible for
They are located within small lacunae Maintaining the integrity of the extracellular matrix
46
How do you chondrocytes receive metabolites
Cartilage lacks blood vessels So chondrocytes depend on metabolite diffusion from the capillaries at the edge through the water of the ground substance
47
Describe hyaline cartilage Where is it found
Contains abundant ground substance with scattered fibres to form a thick into cellular material It is the commonest form of cartilage In the trachea, nose, larynx , ribs and all articular surfaces
48
How much of hyaline cartilage is ground substance and what kind of collagen does it to contain
70% ground substance Type II cartilage
49
Describe fibrocartilage
Contains abundant type II collagen fibres This resilient cartilage is formed from alternating layers of hyaline cartilage matrix and layers of dense collagen fibres
50
Where is fibrocartilage found
In intervertebral discs, where ligaments or tendons connect to bone and in the pubic symphysis
51
Describe elastic cartilage Where is it found
Has a structure similar to hyaline cartilage but contains abundant branching elastic fibres and Type II collagen In the external air and external auditory canal as well as in part of the laryngeal cartilages and in the epiglottis
52
How does bone differ from cartilage
Mineral salts are deposited in the intercellular material to give increased rigidity
53
Why is blood considered to be a connective tissue
It originates in the mesoderm and has a matrix
54
What do you all blood cells arise from
The same pluripotent uncommitted stem cell
55
What is haematopoiesis?
The process of blood production which is usually carried out in the bone marrow
56
What do pluripotent stem cells differentiate into
Progenitor cells which differentiate into various types of blood cells
57
How many litres of red blood cells do we have
2 L 5x10^6 RBC per mm3
58
How long is the lifespan of a human red blood cell
120 days
59
What is the shape of a red blood cell
Biconcave
60
What are reticulocytes What do they contain
Immature RBCs that are releases from The bone marrow to the circulation where they mature after 1-2 days Some rER and small mitochondria
61
What is the proportion of reticulocytes in human blood
1% of the total number of mature red blood cells
62
How many blood cells are white blood cells
About one cell in 1000 blood cells is a leucocyte
63
How are white blood cells classified
According to their appearance in the light microscope, the presence of granules in the cytoplasm and how the granules are covered with Leishmann’s stain
64
How are white blood cells divided
Into granulocytes and agranulocytes
65
Name the three granulocytes
Neutrophils Eosinophils Basophils
66
Name the two types of agranulocytes
Lymphocyte Monocyte
67
What are thrombocytes How big are they
Platelets 1-4μm in diameter
68
Describe a platelet
Non-nucleated, by convex fragments formed in the bone marrow from the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes They contain the most cytoplasmic organelles of any cell
69
What consists of ~20% of the platelet volume
Electron dense granules containing serotonin and many proteins
70
How many platelets are there
150-400x10^3 per μm of normal circulating blood
71
What is the role of platelets
Haemostasis (control of bleeding) Plugging sites of vascular damage Facilitating vascular repair
72
What are granulocytes generally
White blood cells with cytoplasmic granules that contain substances that participate in inflammatory and allergic responses
73
Describe a neutrophil
Contains neutrophilic granules that do not stain well It is best to identify them by the fact that the nucleus is divided into several lobes – the polymorphic nucleus Neutrophils are the most numerous am on the white blood cells
74
What percentage of white blood cells are neutrophils
60%
75
What are eosinophils?
Eosinophilic Granules of relatively uniform size that stain red or orange with acidic dyes
76
How do the sizes of eosinophils and neutrophils compare
Eosinophils > neutrophils
77
Describe basophils
Contain course but you do feel like granules that staying with basic dies and pick up azure and stain blue The granules vary in size and shape and a larger than those of eosinophils These are the rarest I’m on the white blood cells making up only 1% of total leucocytes
78
Describe a lymphocyte
Cells with a round nucleus and a clear scanty cytoplasm
79
Describe a monocyte
A large cell with an indented bean shaped, curved nucleus and abundant cytoplasm
80
Describe the function of neutrophils
They are the first line defence against infectious pathogens They ingest and destroy antibody /antigen complexes and bacteria The granules contain hydrolyses as well as proteolytic, lipolytic and carbohydrate digestive enzymes The chemicals they release course fever and inflammatory responses
81
What is the main constituent of pus
The dead remnants of neutrophils
82
What is the half life of neutrophils
6 hours In Circulation
83
How do many neutrophils into the tissues
between the endothelial cells of capillaries by dispedesis
84
What do eosinophils do What is the half life like How do they enter tissue
Release inflammatory substances and kill parasites The number increases in allergic reactions eg asthma V short Through capillary walls
85
What do basophils do
Enter tissues and release inflammatory substances and histamine when activated They play a part in the stomach anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity reactions which results in the release of vasoactive agents from their granules
86
Name two things found in basophil granules.
Histamine Heparin (an anticoagulant)
87
How are lymphocytes divided
Functionally into B- and T- lymphocytes Both of which help acquire immunity NK cells (natural killer cells) Are larger and much less abundant than B- or T- lymphocytes and play a role in innate immunity
88
Discuss B lymphocytes
Produced in the bone marrow and involved in the production of circulating antibodies
89
Discuss T lymphocytes
Involved in cell mediated immunity Produced in bone marrow but complete their maturation in the thymus
90
What is the half life of a monocyte What happens after this
~72 hours They enter the tissues and become tissue macrophages As macrophages they show avid phagocytosis and are important in and ingesting and destroying bacteria and foreign particulate material
91
Tissue macrophages comprise…
Kupffer cells of the liver Macrophages of the pulmonary alveolus (dust cells) Microglia of the brain
92
What are mast cells
Granulated, wondering cells that originate in the bone marrow but are released into the circulation as mast cell progenitors that mature when they are in the tissue
93
What do the granules of mast cells contain
Histamine Heparin Proteases
94
Where are mast cells found What are other functions of mast cells
In areas of connective-tissue where they play A role in inflammatory responses e.g. post defence to invading parasites and allergic reactions Recruitment of immune cells, smooth muscle contraction and increased vascular permeability

Histology (9 decks)

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