Connective tissues Flashcards
What are the 4 types of tissue?
Epithelium, connective, nervous, muscle
Function of connective tissue
provide structure and function to organs and other tissues
Connective tissues in the head of femur
articular cartilage, periosteum, cortical/compact bone, spongy/trabecular bone, fatty marrow (adipose)
How does the structure of tendons reflect their function?
Dense, fibres run in parallel. High tensile strength to transfer force of muscle contraction to bone.
Structure of a kidney tubule
Simple cuboidal epithelium resting on a basement membrane (CT composed of collagen fibres)
3 main components of connective tissue
Ground substance, fibres, cells
What do the fibres and ground substance form?
Extracellular matrix
Functions of ground substance
Provides structural and biochemical support, water-binding ability (tissue volume) and supports intercellular exchange of substances via diffusion.
What is ground substance composed of?
Glycoproteins and complex carbohydrates (e.g. hyaluronic acid, glucosamine) - forms clear, semi-solid gel
Function of fibres
Provide tensile strength and structural integrity (supporting framework for ground substance and cells)
2 main types of fibres
collagen and elastin
How does the structure of elastin relate to its function?
Fibres are long and branched which provide stretch and recoil ability.
Which cells synthesise and secrete collagen and elastin into the ECM?
Fibroblasts
Where is type I collagen found?
Fibrous tissues (dermis of skin, tendons, ligaments, bone)
Where is type II collagen found?
Hyaline cartilage
Structure and location of type III collagen?
Delicate branched ‘reticular’ network found in highly cellular organs (liver, lymph nodes)
Which organs is elastin found in?
Blood vessels, skin, bladder, lungs
Function of connective tissue cells
to synthesise, secrete, recycle ECM (ground substance and fibres)
What suffix is given to cells that synthesise and secrete the ECM?
-blasts
What suffix is given to cells that maintain the ECM?
-cytes