connective tissues Flashcards

1
Q

what is connective tissue?

A

the most abundant tissue in the human body

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2
Q

what are example of connective tissues?

A
  • bone (structural integrity)
  • cartilage (protects joints)
  • tendons/ligaments (connects muscle to bone)
  • adipose tissue (store energy)
  • mesentery (connects intestine to abdomen
  • layers under skin/around organs (support)
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3
Q

what is the structure of tendons (connective tissue)?

A
  • dense fibrous tissue
  • fires run parallel, which increases strength to help transfer the force of muscle contractions to bone
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4
Q

what are the components of connective tissue?

A
  • ground substance
  • fibres
  • cells
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5
Q

what makes up the extracellular matrix and what is its function?

A

ground substance and fibres

it provides structural and biochemical support for cells

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6
Q

what is ground substance?

A
  • provides biochemical support
  • clear, semi-solid gel
  • composed of glycoproteins and complex carbohydrates (hyaluronic acid and glucosamine)
  • water binding ability
  • provides tissue volume
  • supports intracellular exchange of substances
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7
Q

what are the two main types of fibres in connective tissue?

A

collagen and elastin

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8
Q

what is the role of fibres in connective tissue?

A
  • provides structural support and tensile strength
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9
Q

describe collagen fibres

A
  • strongest fibres
  • most abundant fibres
  • provide tensile strength
  • secreted by ECM by connective tissue cells
  • around 28 different types
  • type 1- found in fibrous tissues eg dermis of skin
  • type 2- hyaline cartilage contains this
  • type 3- found in highly cellular organs eg liver- has a delicate branched reticular network
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10
Q

describe elastin fibres

A
  • long and branched
  • wavy to provide stretch and recoil ability
  • secreted into ECM by connective tissue cells
  • found in the skin, lungs, blood vessels, bladder etc.
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11
Q

what do - blast cells do?

A

synthesise the extracellular matrix

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12
Q

what do -cyte cells do?

A

maintain the extracellular matrix

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13
Q

what do -clast cells do?

A

breakdown the extracellular matrix

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14
Q

what is the most common connective tissue cell?

A

fibroblasts- secrete fibres and components of ground substance

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15
Q

what do odontoblast cells do?

A

synthesise dentine in the teeth

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16
Q

what do adipocyte cells do?

A

maintain the ECM in adipose tissue

17
Q

what do osteoclast cells do?

A

recycle (breakdown) ECM in bone

18
Q

what makes connective tissue highly vascularised?

A
  • blood vessels and lymphatics
  • immune cells which survey tissues for invading pathogens/cell damage
  • exceptions are cartilage, tendons and ligaments
19
Q

what is loose connective tissue proper mostly made up of?

A

ground substance (fewer fibres)

20
Q

what is dense connective tissue proper mostly made up of?

A

fibres

21
Q

what are examples of loose connective tissue proper?

A
  • areolar
  • adipose
  • reticular
22
Q

describe areolar loose connective tissue

A

can be found beneath the skin, submucosa and surrounding capillaries
- universal packing material

23
Q

describe adipose loose connective tissue

A

can be found in isolation or in small clusters deep beneath the skin , breasts, abdomen and pads of fingers/toes
- energy storage, shock absorption and insulate

24
Q

what are examples of highly cellular organs?

A

liver, lymph nodes, spleen

25
Q

what are examples of dense connective tissues?

A
  • dense regular
  • dense irregular
  • elastic
26
Q

describe regular dense connective tissue

A

closely packed collagen fibres running in the same direction, providing tensile strength
- found in tendons and ligaments

27
Q

describe irregular dense connective tissue

A

closely packed interwoven fibres fibres running in different directions
- found in dermis of skin and forming a protective capsule around organs

28
Q

describe dense elastic connective tissue

A

it is the only dense regular tissue dominated by elastic fibres- allows stretch and recoil
- found in arteries, skin, lungs and underlying epithelium

29
Q

what is scurvy?

A
  • a disease caused by a lack in vitamin C
  • defective collagen formation
  • leads to loose teeth, skin haemorrhages and even death
  • treated with vitamin C
  • symptoms include fatigue, gum disease, anaemia, poor wound healing etc.
30
Q

what is vitamin C required for?

A

collagen synthesis

  • it has a triple helix structure arising from collagens unusual abundance of amino acids, glycine, proline and hydroxyproline
  • without the structural support from collagen, blood vessels, tendons and skin become fragile
31
Q

what is SLE?

A

systemic lupus erythematosis
- autoimmune disease
- target tissues which antigens attack include skin, bones, tendons and kidney
- oral symptoms include dry and painful oral cavity
- oral manifestations are the buccal and palatal lesions

32
Q

what is sjogren’s?

A

an autoimmune disease
- affects the glands which produce tears and saliva
- symptoms include dry eyes and mouth
- oral manifestations are increased dental caries and candidiasis
- can occur independently or accompany other disorders eg SLE