Connective Tissue/Cartilage

Question 1

What are some examples of connective tissue?

Answer 1

• Bone
• Ligaments
• Fat
• Blood

Question 2

What are the functions of connective tissue?

Answer 2

• Bind and support other tissues e.g. ligament and bone
• Protect and insulate organs e.g. fat
• Transport nutrients e.g. blood

Question 3

What are the features of connective tissue?

Answer 3

• Cells
• Matrix
  
  • protein fibers
  • ground substance

Question 4

What are BLAST cells?

Answer 4

• secrete matrix
• e.g. bone (osteoblast)
• e.g. cartilage (chondroblast)

Question 5

What are CYTE cells?

Answer 5

• maintain matrix
• e.g. bone (osteocyte)
• e.g. cartilage (chondrocyte)

Question 6

What is the Matrix?

Answer 6

• Protein fibers embedded in ground substance
• Make up of matrix gives each type of connective tissue unique properties

Question 7

What is ground substance?

Answer 7

• Can be fluid, gel or solid
• Composed of: core protein chain, polysaccharide side chains
• Amorphous (no specific shape)

Question 8

What is the purpose of ground substance?

Answer 8

• support cells
• bind cells together
• medium for substance exchange between blood and cells

Question 9

What are Elastic Fibers?

Answer 9

• consist of protein called elastin
• can be stretched 150% of relaxed length without breaking

Question 10

What are collagen fibers?

Answer 10

• consist of protein called collagen
• very tough and resistant to tension (pulling forces)
• often arranged in bundles, giving great strength
• still allow some flexibility because not taunt

Question 11

What are the three types of cartilage?

Answer 11

• Hyaline cartilage
• Fibrocartilage
• Elastic Cartilage

Question 12

What are the roles of hyaline cartilage?

Answer 12

• covers articular surfaces of joints
• reduces friction
• absorbs shock
• e.g. end of bones

Question 13

What is the composition of Hyaline cartilage?

Answer 13

• chondrocytes
• ground substance
  
  • resilient gel
  • fine collagen fibers

Question 14

What is the roles of fibrocartilage?

Answer 14

• forms discs and rings between joints
• can resist considerable pressure
• great strength, some elasticity
• e.g. discs in spine

Question 15

What is the composition of fibrocartilage?

Answer 15

• chondrocyte
• matrix
  
  • bundles of thick collagen fibres
  • gives strength

Question 16

What is the composition of dense regular connective tissue?

Answer 16

• fibroblasts
• matrix
  
  • collagen fibres in parallel bundles
  • a few elastin fibers
• great tensile strength (resists pulling in one direction)

Question 17

What is the function of dense regular connective tissue?

Answer 17

Provides strong attachment between structures

Question 18

What are ligaments?

Answer 18

• attach bone to bone
• stabilise joints
• restrict excessive motion

Question 19

What are tendons?

Answer 19

• attach muscle to bone
• transmit tensile loads

Question 20

What is the composition of dense irregular connective tissue?

Answer 20

• fibroblasts
• matrix
  
  • collagen fibers randomly arranged
  • a few elastin fibers
  • strong in multiple directions

Question 21

What is the function is dense irregular tissue?

Answer 21

provide strength in multiple directions

Question 22

what is deep fascia?

Answer 22

• a sheet of connective tissue surrounding and protecting muscles
• also holds muscles together and separates into functional groups