connective tissue lecture Flashcards
what are the major functions of connective tissue?
connects structures
protection and support
act as a filler material
transports gases
stores energy
is connective tissue richly or poorly vascularized or is it more complicated?
richly vascularized
EPI tissue is characterized by tightly packed cells. what’s the key characteristic of connective
tissue?
cells are distant
what’s the difference between a -blast and a -cyte?
cyte is mature cell, blast is not
what are the two main structural components of connective tissue?
describe ground substance. what is its function in general?
material that fills the spaces between cells and holds the fibers
what 3 fiber types make up the extracellular matrix? how do they differ from each other?
what specific protein makes up each type of fiber?
collagen fiber- great tensile strength, but flexible
reticular fiber- thinner fibers, often from ornate, sponge like shapes
elastic fibers- thinnest, highly elastic, enables lungs to stretch
what is mesenchyme? why does some persist in the adult
mesenchyme is embryonic connective tissue. sticks around in mature tissue to regenerate damaged tissue
how well vascularized is loose connective tissue versus dense conn. tissue?
loose ct tissue is well vascularized, fibers packed loosely
dense ct tissue is poorly vascularized, fibers packed tightly
what are the functions of areolar connective tissue? where is it located in the body?
soft packing material
reservoir of water and cells
plays vital role in inflammation
located underneath EPI tissues major part of hypodermis
what four types of cells occur in areolar conn. tissue? what are their functions?
fat cells
macrophages
mast cells
adipose tissue is unlike other conn. tissues in what way?
it has little matrix
how are adipocytes similar to mature nerve and muscle cells?
cannot divide
when we gain/lose weight, what happens to adipocytes?
what are the major functions of adipose tissue?
long term energy storage
cushions joints and internal organs
insulation
heat generation
where is reticular conn. tissue found? What is its function?
found in spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver
forms a soft ornate internal skeleton that supports the working cells of the organ
what cell type is most common in both types of dense conn. tissue? What fiber type?
fibroblasts
collagen fibers
structurally and functionally, how do the two types of dense conn. tissue differ?
where is each type of dense conn. tissue found?
what are the general structural features of cartilage?
what’s the meaning of lacunae? of perichondrium?
what are the three types of cartilage?
hyaline
elastic
what is the basic function of each type of cartilage? where is each type located?
blood seems very different from the other conn. tissues. why is it nonetheless classified as
a conn. tissue?
what are some functions of blood?
