Connective Tissues Flashcards
Give examples of connective tissues
Bone, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, adipose tissue, mesentery, layers under skin and around organs
How is structure related to function?
Diverse structural arrangement depending on location and function of tissue
What features define connective tissues?
Ground substance, fibres and cells
What makes up the extracellular matrix?
Ground substance and fibres
What does the extracellular matrix do?
Provides structural and biochemical support for cells
What is the function of ground substance?
provides biochemical support and supports intercellular exchange of substances
What is ground substance?
Clear, semi-solid gel composed of glycoproteins and complex carbohydrates (hyaluronic acid and glucosamine)
What do fibres do?
Provide structural support and tensile strength
What are the two main types of fibres?
Collagen and elastin
Describe collagen fibres
Strongest and most abundant, provide tensile strength
Describe elastin fibres
Long and branched, provide stretch and recoil ability
Where does collagen come from?
It is secreted into the ECM by connective tissue cells
What is type 1 collagen?
found in fibrous tissues
What is type 2 collagen?
Hyaline cartilage
What is type 3 collagen?
delicate branched ‘reticular’ network found in highly cellular organs
Where does elastin come from?
It is secreted into the ECM by fibroblasts
What does elastin do?
Confers elasticity to tissues
Where is elastin found?
Skin, lungs, blood vessels, bladder
What do the cells of the connective tissues do?
synthesise, secrete and recycle ECM
What do blasts do?
Synthesise ECM
What do cytes do?
Maintain ECM
What do clasts do?
Breakdown ECM
What do fibroblasts do?
secrete fibres and components of ground substance
What do chondrocytes do?
secrete and maintain ECM in cartilage
What do osteoblasts and osteocytes do?
Secrete and maintain mineralised ECM in bone
What do connective tissues contain?
Blood vessels and lymphatics. Immune cells which survey tissues for invading pathogens/cell damage
What is connective tissue proper?
loose or dense depending on arrangement of fibres
What is skeletal connective tissues?
Cartilage and bone
What is fluid connective tissues?
blood and lymph
What is loose connective tissues?
Mostly made up of ground substance. Areolar, adipose and reticular
What is dense connective tissues?
Mostly made up of fibres. Regular, irregular and elastic
What is areolar tissue and where is it found?
Universal packing material which supports and binds other tissues. It is found beneath skin, submucosa and surrounding capillaries
What is adipose tissue and where are they found
Function as energy storage, shock absorption and insulation. Found beneath skin, breasts, in abdomen, finger and foot pads.
Where are adipocytes found?
In isolation or in small clusters
What is reticular tissue and where is it found?
Delicate, branched network providing internal structure to highly cellular organs (liver, lymph nodes, spleen)
What is dense regular tissue and where is it found?
closely packed collagen fibres running in the same direction. provides tensile strength and found in tendons and ligaments
What is dense irregular tissue and where is it found?
closely packed interwoven fibres running in different directions. found in dermis of skin, forms protective capsule around organs
What is elastic dense tissue and where is it found?
allows tissues to recoil after stretching. found in arteries, skin, lungs and underlying transitional epithelium
What is scurvy and what are the oral manifestations?
Lack of vitamin C leading to defective collagen formation. Leads to loose teeth, skin haemorrhages and even death
What is systemic lupus erythematosis and what are the oral manifestations?
autoimmune disease. target skin, bones, tendons and kidneys. Oral symptoms include dryness and soreness. Oral manifestations include buccal and palatal lesions.
What is sjogren’s disease and what are the oral manifestations?
autoimmune disease affecting saliva and tear glands. dry eyes and mouth, occur independently of accompany other disorders. Can cause increased dental caries ad candidiasis.
