Connective Tissue & integumentary system overview

Question 1

What is mesenchyme?

Answer 1

• embryonic connective tissue
• all adult connective tissue develops from mesenchyme
• replenish and repair adult connective tissue

Question 2

List the 3 main groups of adult connective tissue and their subsequent subgroups

Answer 2

1. Connective tissue proper:
   i. loose: areolar, adipose, reticular
   ii. dense: regular, irregular, elastic
2. Supporting connective tissue:
   i. cartilage: hyaline, fibrocartilage, elastic
   ii. bone: compact, spongy
3. Fluid connective tissue:
   i. blood
   ii. lymph

Question 3

Describe Hyaline cartilage in more detail:

Answer 3

• most common
• weakest
• glassy
• scattered chondrocytes
• perichondrium
• type 2 collagen only

Question 4

Describe Fibrocartilage in more detail:

Answer 4

• extreme durability
• parallel rows of chondrocytes and fibroblasts
• larger collagen fibres (type 1 and 2)
• sparse ground substance
• no perichondrium

Question 5

Describe the 2 main forms of bone

Answer 5

Woven = immature 
Lamellar = mature

Question 6

Thin vs. Thick skin

Answer 6

Thin skin = not all epidermal strata present
- covers most of the body, contains hair follicles, sweat glands and sebaceous glands
Thick skin = all epidermal strata present
- palms of hand and fingers, soles of feet and toes, contains sweat glands

Question 7

Describe the 3 classifications of burns

Answer 7

1st Degree: epidermis
2nd Degree: blister as epidermis, separates from dermis
3rd Degree: affects epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layer

Question 8

Describe the 3 major types of skin cancer that originate in the epidermis

Answer 8

1. Basal cell carcinoma: most common, least dangerous, on face
2. Squamous cell carcinoma: raised, red, scaly lesions, on scalp, ears, lip and dorsum of hand. May metastasis
3. Malignant melanoma: aggressive growth and metastasis. Melanoma cells originate from melanocytes