connective tissues Flashcards
function of connective tissues
provide support and bind other tissues together. provide insulation and protection for other tissues. some are able to transport substances (blood)
characteristics of connective tissues
-all connective tissues are formed from one type of stem cell (mesenchyme)
-connective tissues vary in degree of vascularity (presence of blood vessels)
-all are mostly composed of extracellular matrix
parts of the extracellular matrix
ground substance and fibers
ground substance
watery/gel like substance secreted by cells
fibers
collagen, elastic, or reticular
types of loose connective tissues
areolar, adipose, and reticular
areolar loose connective tissue
-mostly open space
-holds water and salts for surrounding tissues
-found under epithelium and around organs
adipose loose connective tissues
-composed of fat cells (adipocytes)
-have large vacuoles that contain fat and oil
-insulates and warms body
-provides nutrients to other cells
reticular loose connective tissue
-contains reticular fibers, which create a stiff framework that supports other cells
types of dense connective tissues
regular, irregular, and elastic
regular dense connective tissue
-collagen fibers are arranged in one direction
-provides “tensile strength”, like a rope
-found in tendons and ligaments
irregular dense connective tissue
-collagen fibers are arranged in many directions
-provides strength in multiple directions
-found in capsules around organs
elastic dense connective tissue
-provides flexible cushioning
-found between vertebrae and in arteries
characteristics of cartilage tissues
-no blood vessels or nerves
-flexible ground surface
different types of cartilage connective tissue
hyaline, fibro-cartilage, and elastic
hyaline cartilage
-glass looking
-firm ground substance with lacuna (spaces for cells)
-few collagen fibers
-found in larynx, bridge of nose, and ribs
fibro-cartilage cartilage
-contains lost of collagen
-mostly running parallel
-found in intervertebral spaces
elastic cartilage
-highly flexible
-more elastic fibers
-found in outer ear and tip of nose
characteristics of bone (osseous) tissue
-calcified ground substance
-spongy
-compact
what are osteocytes
secrete ground substances, fibers, collagen, and fluids
vascular (blood) tissue
although vascular tissue doesn’t seem to be connective, it is… :)
characteristics of vascular tissue
-plasma (fluid) ground substance
- platelet fibers
types of vascular tissues
mast cells, macro-phages, and blood cells
mast cells of vascular tissues
-detect foreign substances
-contain granules that secrete inflammatory chemicals
macro-phages of vascular tissues
-blob like cells that engulf invading substances or organisms
blood cells of vascular tissues
-red blood cells: erythrocytes (carry oxygen)
-white blood cells: leukocytes (provide immune response)
