Connective Tissue Flashcards
found in basement membrane; aids in adhesion between cell membrane and extracellular matrix via interaction of adhesion molecules called integrins
fibronectin
organic extracellular matrix made up of various fibers; amorphous, transparent material with properties of a semi-fluid fel; long, unbranched polysaccharide chains of repeating disaccharide units; one of the two sugars in always an amino sugar
ground substance
fibers that make up ground substance
elastin, reticulin, and collagen
collagen containing thin branching net-like fibers (reticulin fibers); for structural support in organs; argyrophilic
type 3 collagen
includes blood, bone, cartilage, adipose tissue, hematopoietic tissue, lymphatic tissue, mesenchymal and mucus connective tissue
specialized connective tissue
autosomal dominant condition resulting in abnormal elastic fibers; characterized by tall stature, long limbs, and long thin fingers; enlarged aorta with increased regurgitation and increased risk of developing a dissecting aneurysm
Marfan’s syndrome
makes up 90% of the collagen in the body and makes up loose & dense connective tissue of skin, tendons, ligaments, bone & fibrocartilage
type 1 collagen
provides structural support and metabolic support for other tissues and organs; carries blood vessels and functions in tissue repairs; mediates exchange of nutrients/metabolites/waste products between tissue and circulation
connective tissue
collagen fibers oriented parallel to each other; densely packed fibers and cells arranged in fascicles
regular dense connective tissue
fibroblasts with contractile ability used in wound contraction
myofibroblasts
collagen found in basement membrane that forms an open meshwork
type 4 collagen
multilocular fat that is highly specialized; present in infants and hibernating animals; used in thermoregulation to maintain body temperature, located in adrenals of humans; large #’s of mitochondria that produce heat
brown fat
highly branched; random coiling pattern allows stretching; arranged in fibers and sheets; refractile; synthesized by fibroblasts as tropoelastin precursor
elastic fibers
don’t compact well; negatively charged due to sulfate and carboxyl side groups that are hydrophilic that forms gel; make up most of ground substance; reinforced with fibrous proteins
glycosaminoglycans
responsible for storage and metabolism of lipids; large, balloon-shaped, clear spaces filled with lipid
adipocytes
sparse fibers and abundant ground substance; supportive function; located beneath epithelia and around nerves and vessels
loose (areolar) connective tissue
best known collagenopathy that affects type 5 collagen; characterized by hyperextension of joints, skin fragility, and poor wound healing
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
pointed, elongate, spindle shaped cells that synthesize and maintain proteinaceous ground substance and connective tissue fibers
fibroblasts
protein core similar to collagen, surrounded by microfibrils of fibrillin
elastin
collagen synthesis
procollagen secreted into ECS to tropocollagen to collagen microfibrils to collagen bundle
cells morphologically similar to primitive mesenchymal cells that look like branched fibroblasts; have phagocytic function
reticular cells
non filamentous molecules associated with basement membrane
laminin, entactin, and tenascin
contains adipocytes; functions in energy storage, thermoregulation and as shock absorber
adipose tissue
collagen fibers oriented randomly; moderate number of fibers and few cells
irregular dense connective tissue
predominant GAG in loose connective tissue; lacks sulfonated groups, several thousand sugars long, does not form proteoglycans itself but can bind with them
hyaluronic acid
glycoprotein that precursor proteins produced by fibroblasts; has at least 28 different types, principle fiber in extracellular matrix and provides tensile strength
collagen
unilocular fat distributed in dermis and around intraperitoneal organs
white fat
collagen found in hyaline and elastic cartilage
type 2 collagen
provides structural support- abundant fibers, moderate number of cells, lesser ground substance
dense connective tissue
