connective tissues Flashcards
what is connective tissue?
the most abundant tissue in the human body
what are example of connective tissues?
- 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)
what is the structure of tendons (connective tissue)?
- dense fibrous tissue
- fires run parallel, which increases strength to help transfer the force of muscle contractions to bone
what are the components of connective tissue?
- ground substance
- fibres
- cells
what makes up the extracellular matrix and what is its function?
ground substance and fibres
it provides structural and biochemical support for cells
what is ground substance?
- 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
what are the two main types of fibres in connective tissue?
collagen and elastin
what is the role of fibres in connective tissue?
- provides structural support and tensile strength
describe collagen fibres
- 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
describe elastin fibres
- 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.
what do - blast cells do?
synthesise the extracellular matrix
what do -cyte cells do?
maintain the extracellular matrix
what do -clast cells do?
breakdown the extracellular matrix
what is the most common connective tissue cell?
fibroblasts- secrete fibres and components of ground substance
what do odontoblast cells do?
synthesise dentine in the teeth