Connective Tissue Lab Flashcards
Primary Function of CT
Support, protect, and nourish various organ systems
Connective Tissue Proper
- classified according to the arrangement and types of extracellular components
- it is not according to number of cells or their shapes as in epithelium
Connective tissue is composed of:
1) resident cells
2) transient cells
3) fibers (extracellular matrix)
4) ground substance
Embryonic Connective Tissue (Fetal CT)
- Mesenchyme
- Mucous CT
Connective Tissue Proper
- Loose CT
- Dense CT (Dense Irregular or Dense Regular)
Specialized CT
- Adipose CT (white or brown)
- Cartilage (Hyaline, Elastic, Fibrocartilage)
- Bone (Primary, Trabecular, Compact/secondary bone)
- Blood (Fluid components, RBCs, WBCs, Platelets)
- Bone Marrow
What are the Resident Cells in CT?
- Fibroblasts
- Macrophages
- Mast cells
What does the cytoplasm of the fibroblast look like?
- Fusiform, elongated cell
- Eosinophilic, but indistinct on H&E; blends into TEM
- Can be basophilic and large, ovoid if activated or in fetal tissues
What does the nucleus of the fibroblast look like?
- Fusiform, tapered at each end
- Can be dark blue and condensed if inactive
- Activated or in fetal tissue can be large oval and light blue
What’s the primary function for fibroblasts?
- Produces ECM components
- Fibers and ground substances
What does the cytoplasm look like for a macrophage?
- Oval cell
- Amphophilic unless activated
- Activated = it becomes eosinophilic/ foamy
- Contains phagocytized debris
What does the nucleus look like for a macrophage?
- Round, usually centralized nucleus
- But will get pushed aside as cell engulfs the material
What’s the primary function for macrophage?
- Professional phagocyte
- Professional antigen presenting cell
- Present in all organs
