Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

What is the structure/function of connective tissue?

A

Tissue that supports, protects, and gives structure to other tissues and organs.

All share specialized cells and ECM

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2
Q

What are the functions of connective tissue?

A
Structural framework for the body
Transport fluids/dissolved materials 
Protect/insulate organs
Support/connect other tissues
Store energy as triglycerides
Immune response
Compartmentalize structures
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3
Q

Where is connective tissue located?

A

Bone, cartilage, fat, blood, lymph

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4
Q

What is the extracellular matrix made of?

A

Ground substance, connective tissue fibers, and extracellular adhesion molecules

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5
Q

What is ground substance made of?

A

Extracellular fluid, proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid

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6
Q

What are extracellular adhesion molecules made of?

A

Fibronectin (connective tissue proper), osteonectin (bone), chondronectin (cartilage)

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7
Q

What are connective tissue fibers made of?

A

Collagen fibers, elastic fibers, reticular fibers

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8
Q

Describe collagen fibers

A

Long, straight, unbranched, strong fibers made of different types of collagen.

Most common fiber in connective tissue proper

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9
Q

Collagen

A

The most abundant protein in the body

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10
Q

Where are collagen fibers found?

A

Tendons and ligaments

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11
Q

Describe reticular fibers

A

Fine, branched fibers continuous with collagen fibers.

Forms stroma

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12
Q

Stroma

A

A network of interwoven fibers in reticular connective tissue

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13
Q

Where are reticular fibers found?

A

Spleen, liver, lymph nodes, red bone marrow

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14
Q

Describe elastic fibers

A

Small, strong, branched, flexible fibers made of elastin and fibrillin

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15
Q

Where are elastic fibers found?

A

Elastic ligaments of vertebrae, skin, lungs, walls of blood vessels

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16
Q

Fibroblasts

A

Most abundant cell type found in all connective tissue proper.

Large, flat cells with branching processes.
SECRETE protein fibers and some components of the ground substance

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17
Q

Fibrocytes

A

The second most abundant cell type found in all connective tissue proper.

MAINTAINS the fibers of connective tissue proper

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18
Q

Adipocytes

A

Fat cells, each storing a single fat droplet

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19
Q

Mesenchymal cells

A

Stem cells that respond to injury or infection

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20
Q

What do mesenchymal cells differentiate into?

A

Fibroblasts, chondoblasts, osteoblasts, hemocytoblasts, macrophages

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21
Q

Mast cells

A

Stimulate inflammation after injury or infection

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22
Q

Histamine

A

Inflammatory agent

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23
Q

Heparin

A

Anticoagulant agent (prevents blood clots)

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24
Q

Macrophages

A

Large, amoeba-like cells of the immune system that eat pathogens and damaged cells

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25
Q

What are the two subtypes of macrophages?

A
Fixed macrophages (stay in tissue)
Free macrophages (migrate)
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26
Q

What are the three types of mature connective tissues?

A

Connective tissue proper, fluid connective tissue, supporting connective tissue

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27
Q

Characteristics of connective tissue proper

A
  1. Many types of cells and EC fibers
  2. Viscous ground substance
  3. Variety (loose & dense) based on number of cell types present, and proportions of connective tissue fibers to ground substance
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28
Q

Characteristics of supporting connective tissues

A
  1. Less diverse cell population
  2. Gelatinous or calcified ground substance with densely packed connective tissue fibers
  3. Provides structural strength and support
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29
Q

What are the two types of connective tissue proper?

A

Loose and dense

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30
Q

Characteristics of loose connective tissue

A

“Packing materials” of the body that fill spaces between organs.

More ground substance than connective tissue fibers.

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31
Q

What are the three types of loose connective tissue?

A

Areolar, adipose, and reticular tissues

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32
Q

What is the structure/characteristics of areolar tissue?

A

Open framework of collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers.

Least specialized; most diverse cell population.

Viscous ground substance absorbs shocks.

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33
Q

What is the function of areolar tissue?

A

Loose packing, support, and nourishment

34
Q

Where is areolar tissue located?

A

Directly deep to epithelial basement membrane.

Packing between glands, muscles, and nerves.

35
Q

What is the structure/characteristics of adipose tissue?

A

Contains many adipocytes (fat cells) with a single lipid droplet inside

36
Q

What is the function of adipose tissue?

A

Provide cushioning/protection, shock absorption, thermal insulation, energy storage,

37
Q

Where is adipose tissue located?

A

Deep to the skin

Hypodermis

38
Q

What is the structure/characteristics of reticular tissue?

A

Supportive framework forming a 3D network (stroma)

39
Q

What is the function of reticular tissue?

A

Provides supportive framework

Forms stroma

40
Q

Where is reticular tissue located?

A

Spleen, liver, lymph nodes, red bone marrow

41
Q

Characteristics of dense connective tissue

A

Fills nearly all extracellular space.

More connective tissue fibers than ground substance

42
Q

What are the two types of dense connective tissue?

A

Dense regular and dense irregular

Both have collagenous and elastic subtypes.

43
Q

What is the structure of dense regular collagenous tissue?

A

Tightly packed, parallel collagen fibers

44
Q

What is the function of dense regular collagenous tissue?

A

Withstand pulling forces in direction of fiber orientation, holding

45
Q

Where is dense regular collagenous tissue located?

A

Tendons (muscle to bone) and ligaments (bone to bone)

46
Q

What is the structure of dense regular elastic tissue?

A

Tightly packed, parallel bundles of collagen and elastic fibers

47
Q

What is the function of dense regular elastic tissue?

A

Stretching and recoil, with strength in direction of fiber orientation

48
Q

Where is dense regular elastic tissue located?

A

Vocal folds, elastic ligaments between vertebrae, dorsal aspect of the neck

49
Q

What is the structure of dense irregular collagenous tissue?

A

Multi-directional bundles of collagen fibers

50
Q

What is the function of dense irregular collagenous tissue?

A

Withstand stretching, holding

51
Q

Where is dense irregular collagenous tissue located?

A

Sheaths, most of the dermis of the skin, organ capsules, outer covering of body tubes

52
Q

What is the structure of dense irregular elastic tissue?

A

Multi-directional bundles of collagen and elastic fibers

53
Q

What is the function of dense irregular elastic tissue?

A

Strength, stretching, recoil in several directions

54
Q

Where is dense irregular elastic tissue located?

A

Elastic arteries

54
Q

Characteristics of cartilage

A

Cartilage cells in an extensive/rigid matrix surrounded by perichondrium.

Provides shock absorption and protection.

Gelatinous ground substance due to abundant proteoglycans.

Contains no blood vessels (avascular)

ECM: collagen/elastic fibers, proteoglycans, chondronectin

55
Q

What are the two types of supporting connective tissue?

A

Cartilage and bone

56
Q

Chondrocytes

A

Cartilage cells that are completely surrounded by lacunae

57
Q

Lacunae

A

The space surrounding a chondrocyte

58
Q

Perichondrium

A

The dense irregular layer of connective tissue surrounding cartilage

59
Q

What is the difference between the outer layer and inner layer of the perichondrium & periosteum?

A

Outer layer: dense irregular collagenous connective tissue; for strength, protection and attachment to other structures

Inner layer: cellular layer; for growth and maintenance

60
Q

Interstitial growth

A

Inner cartilage growth by mitosis

61
Q

Appositional growth

A

Growth/thickening at the cartilage surface

62
Q

What are the three types of cartilage?

A

Hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage

63
Q

What is the structure/characteristics of hyaline cartilage?

A

Most common type

Collagen fibers in the matrix are flexible, packed, evenly dispersed

64
Q

What is the function of hyaline cartilage?

A

Provide stiff but flexible support, reduce friction between boney surfaces, resist compression, allow growth of long bones

65
Q

Where is hyaline cartilage located?

A

Between tips of ribs and bones of sternum, covering bone surfaces at synovial joints, supporting larynx/trachea/bronchi, nasal septum

66
Q

What is the structure/characteristics of elastic cartilage?

A

Contains numerous elastic fibers

67
Q

What is the function of elastic cartilage?

A

Provide support, returns to original state after distortion

68
Q

Where is elastic cartilage located?

A

Top of ear, epiglottis, auditory canal, larynx

69
Q

What is the structure/characteristics of fibrocartilage?

A

Matrix contains durable/tough/interwoven collagen fibers.

Contains little ground substance.

Strongest type of cartilage.

70
Q

What is the function of fibrocartilage?

A

Resist compression, prevents bone to bone contact, limits movement, absorb shock, connects structures

71
Q

Where is fibrocartilage located?

A

Knee joint, pubic bones, intervertebral discs

72
Q

Characteristics of bone (osseous tissue)

A

Calcified ECM, made of calcium salts and mineral deposits.

Contains blood vessels (vascularized).

Supports weight, resists shattering.

73
Q

Osteocytes

A

Bone cells surrounded by lacunae

75
Q

Periosteum

A

The dense irregular layer of connective tissue surrounding bone.

Has same inner/outer layer as perichondrium.

76
Q

Characteristics of fluid connective tissue

A
  1. Distinct population of cells
  2. Fluid ground substance that contains dissolved proteins
  3. Transports substances between body parts
77
Q

What are the two types of fluid connective tissue?

A

Blood and lymph

78
Q

What are the formed elements of blood?

A

Red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets

79
Q

Platelets

A

Fragments of hemopoietic cells that function in the clotting process

80
Q

Characteristics of lymph

A

Forms as interstitial fluid and enters lymphatic vessels.

Contains cells of the immune system.