Connective Tissues Flashcards by Darpan Rekhi

Name the roles of Connective tissues

Provide binding and structural supporting
Protection
Energy storage (adipose)
Insulation (adipose)
Transportation (blood)
Immunity (blood)
Mineral storage (bone)

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What are the 4 primary tissue types

Epithelial
Muscle
Nerve
Connective

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What are the 5 types of connective tissue

Fibrocollagenous tissues
Adipose tissue
Cartilage
Bone
Blood

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What are some characteristics of CT

give common origin

few cells compared to epithelia and other tissues
large amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) usually made by its
intrinsic cells
common origin: embryonic mesenchyme

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What does a -blast and -cyte suffix mean on a cell type

blast = immature
cyte = mature
exceptions = fibroblast and adipocyte

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What are the 3 main components of the ECM

A. ground substance
B. structural glycoproteins
C. collagen fibers

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What is the ground substance

watery to gel-like
specific composition gives each connective tissue distinctive properties
composed of Gags, proteogylcans and glycoproteins

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Name 2 main components of ground substance

1) Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) – long unbranched polysaccaride chains
2) Proteoglycans – many GAG chains (all except hyaluronic acid) linked to a protein core

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What about GAGs and proteoglycans allows them to form the ECF

Negatively charged, open conformations; retain water and positive ions (mostly Na+)

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What are some of the roles of structural glycoproteins

linking, organising, catalysing

processes

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Name some glycoproteins used in cell adhesion

Laminin

Fibronectin

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Name a glycoprotein used in elastic fibre formation

Fibrillin

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Name a glycoprotein used in bone mineralisation

Osteocalcin

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What kind of fibres are found in CT and what are the used for

Collagen and Elastic fibers

- important for the mechanical properties of connective tissues

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Where are fibre precursors secreted from and where do they polymerise

secreted by CT and polymerise outside the cell

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What do collagen fibres provide to CT and what is their precursor

Tensile strength

Precursor = tropocollagen

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What are the features of the different types of collagen and where are each used

Type I : thick bundles, very strong; dermis, bone
Type II: thin, interwoven fibers; cartilage
Type III: delicate branching reticular
Type IV: forms meshwork - important in the basement membrane

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What do elastic fibres provide to CT and what is their precursor

Stretch and resilience

Tropoelastin

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How does elastin form fibrils and where are elastic fibres found

Elastin forms fibrils with fibrillin

- arteries, skin, lung, cartilage

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What role does fibrocollagenous CT tissue play and what cells make them up

Roles: Structural, supportive, protective
Cell: Fibroblast

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What are the different types of fibrocollagenous tissue

Loose CT (areolar)
Dense CT
Reticular CT (loose CT, but with type 3 collagen)

What are the features of Loose (areolar) CT and what type of fibres make it up

Amount relative to ground substance
• relatively few fibers
• abundant viscous ground substance
Type I collagen with elastic fibers

What roles do loose CT play

physical, metabolic and defensive support

Give an example of Loose CT

Lamina propria

Give examples of cell of loose CT

Mast cells, macrophages and lymphocytes

Describe the features of dense CT and what types of fibres make it up

``` Amount - many fibers, little ground substance Organisation - Random - dense irregular CT - Structured - dense regular CT Type I collagen, some elastic fibers ```

What are the main cells of Dense CT and what are the main roles of Dense CT

Cells: fibroblasts primarily Role: mechanical support, tensile strength

What are some examples of Dense CT

- irregular CT - dermis, capsules | - regular CT - tendon, ligament

Describe the features of reticular CT and what types of fibres make it up

Amount - few fibers, little ground substance Organisation - fine branching network Type - Type III collagen

What are the main cells of Reticular CT and what are the main roles of Reticular CT

Cells: mainly fibroblasts Role: structural support in some highly cellular tissues

Give some examples of reticular CT

Lymph nodes, spleen, liver and other glands

What are the cells of adipose tissue

Adipocytes

What type of CT does adipose tissue contain

Loose CT

Where is adipose tissue located

Located beneath skin, around internal organs, in bone marrow and breast tissue

What are the 2 types of adipose tissue

White and brown

Describe the characteristics of white adipose tissue

``` - Unilocular -one space for lipid - Adult - Widespread - Energy store, shock absorber, insulator ```

What are the characteristics of brown adipose tissue

- Multilocular - many spaces - Newborn - Restricted - Heat source - Rich in mitochondria (brown) - more capillaries than white

What are the roles of cartilage

structural- solid but flexible, resists compression

What are the 3 types of cartilage and where can they found

- Hyaline (most prevalent and widespread, found on many joint surfaces) - Elastic (outer eat, larynx) - Fibrocartilage (only type that contains type I coll in addition to the type II coll, pubic symphysis)

Why does cartilage have a unique ground substance

Proteoglycans containing chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate linked to fibers

What types of fibres are found in each type of cartilage

- Hyaline: Type II collagen - Elastic: Type II collagen + elastic fibers - Fibrocartilage: Type II + type I collagen

What are the cells that produce and maintain cartilage

- Chondroblasts (form cartilage) | - Chondrocytes (maintain cartilage)

What are the roles of bone

Structural, shape, locomotion, supportive, protective, | metabolic, synthetic

What is the ground substance of bone called

Osteoid

What types of fibre are found in the ECM

- Type I collagen fibers- layers (lamellae) in mature bone - Arranged in layers / lamellae 3- 7μm thick

What cells make, maintain and resorb bone

- Osteocytes - maintain bone - Osteoblasts - secrete osteoid, form bone - Osteoclasts - resorb bone

What are the roles of blood

- metabolicsupport - for transport of molecules and cells to and from tissues - defensive

What is the ground substance of the ECM of blood

Plasma

Name some of the proteins found in blood

- albumins (60%) - globulins (35%) - fibrinogen (4%, essential in the clotting of blood – fibrin) - regulatory proteins (1%, enzymes, proenzymes and hormones)

What cells are found in blood

Formed in bone marrow | - erythrocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelets