Connective tissues

Question 1

What are the functions of connective tissue?

Answer 1

Structural framework, protection, supports/interconnects tissues, energy storage, transport and defense against microorganisms

Question 2

What are the 6 cell types found in connective tissue?

Answer 2

Fibroblast, mesenchymal, adipocytes, osteoblasts and hematopoietic cells

Question 3

What are fibroblasts?

Answer 3

They produce collagen, proteoglycans and glycoproteins

Question 4

What are mesenchymal cells?

Answer 4

Connective tissue stem cells

Question 5

What are adipocytes?

Answer 5

Cells that store and release fats

Question 6

What are chondrocytes?

Answer 6

Produce and maintain cartilage components

Question 7

What are osteoblasts?

Answer 7

Produce bone components

Question 8

What are hematopoietic cells?

Answer 8

Produce red blood cells and immune cells

Question 9

What is embryonic connective tissue?

Answer 9

Rich in ECM and mesenchymal cells- there is some collagen and elastic fibers

Question 10

What types of cells are found in loose areolar CT?

Answer 10

Fixed cells like mesenchymal cells, fibroblast and adipocytes- there are also wandering cells like macrophages, mast cells, and plasma cells

Question 11

What is the function of loose connective tissue?

Answer 11

Support and bind other tissues, hold body fluids and defense against infection

Question 12

Where is loose connective tissue generally found?

Answer 12

underneath the membranous epithelia, blood vessels, muscles and nerves

Question 13

What are the components of adipose CT?

Answer 13

It is composed mostly of adipocytes and very little ECM

Question 14

What is the function of adipose CT?

Answer 14

Reserve of energy and will provide insulation against heat loss

Question 15

Where is adipose CT generally found?

Answer 15

Under the skin, around organs in the abdomen, buttock and breast

Question 16

What is reticular loose CT?

Answer 16

A connective tissue composed mostly of reticular fibers that functions in creating a matrix to hold free cells

Question 17

Where is reticular loose CT generally found?

Answer 17

In the liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen

Question 18

What are the components of dense irregular CT?

Answer 18

ECM is composed mostly of tightly woven collagen fibers that have no distinct pattern- Fibroblast are the primary cell type

Question 19

Where is dense irregular CT generally found?

Answer 19

in the dermis of the skin, fascia, perichondrium/periosteum and capsules that surround internal organs

Question 20

What is the dense regular CT composed of?

Answer 20

ECM is tightly compacted regularly arranged collagen fibers- fibroblast are the main cell type

Question 21

What is the function of dense regular CT?

Answer 21

Resist pulling forces

Question 22

Where is dense regular CT generally found?

Answer 22

Tendons, ligaments, aponeurosis, joint capsules and dense fascia

Question 23

What is the purpose of collagens?

Answer 23

to resist tension- most common is type 1

Question 24

What is the elastin and what is the composition?

Answer 24

A stretchable fiber that is composed of tropoelastin, fibulin-1 and fibrillins 1/2

Question 25

What are reticular fibers?

Answer 25

They form a supportive meshwork

Question 26

What are type-1 collagen fibers?

Answer 26

They are the most common type of collagen that are aligned/crosslinked to increase tensile strength

Question 27

What is scurvy?

Answer 27

It is a vitamin C deficiency; vitamin C is a cofactor for crosslinking collagen so there will be weakened CT in the body when deficient

Question 28

What is Elhers-Danlos syndrome?

Answer 28

It is a genetic disease that leads to abnormal collagen synthesis and will lead to weakened collagen fibers

Question 29

What is Marfan’s syndrome?

Answer 29

An autosomal dominant disorder that effects the elastin in the body. There is a mutation to the fibrillin 1 gene

Question 30

How does Marfan’s syndrome present?

Answer 30

It will affect the ocular, skeletal and cardiovascular systems. Pts will tend to be tall with long arms and legs

Question 31

What is elastic CT?

Answer 31

High portion of elastic fibers- allow for recoil of tissue following any stretching

Question 32

Where is CT found?

Answer 32

Blood vessel walls, bronchiole tubes and special ligaments

Question 33

What are fibroblast?

Answer 33

They are cells found in CT that produce collagen, elastin, reticular fibers, proteoglycans and glycoproteins

Question 34

What are adipocytes?

Answer 34

They are storage for fat and provide energy for the body- They are tightly packed and push their nucleus to the side

Question 35

What are macrophages?

Answer 35

They perform phagocytosis and destruction of bacteria

Question 36

What are mast cells?

Answer 36

They secrete chemicals like histamine that mediate the allergic reaction and heparin

Question 37

What are plasma cells?

Answer 37

They differentiate from b-lymphocytes and function to produce antibodies for immunity.