Connective Tissues Flashcards
How many types of connective tissues are there?
8
What are the types of connective tissue?
Loose
Adipose
Reticular
Dense
Elastic
Cartilage
Bone
Blood
What are the general characteristics of connective tissue?
- Most abundant tissues in the body
- Cells are further apart than epithelia
- Some can divide
- Have abundance of extracellular matrix between cells
- Has varying number of blood vessels
What is an extracellular matrix?
- the material surrounding the cells
- composed of protein fibers
- composed of ground substance
- consistency varies from very fluid to almost solid
How are connective tissues classified?
- type of fibers present
- arrangement of fibers
- ground substance consistency
What are some of the functions of connective tissue?
- bind structures
- stores fat (lipids)
- provide support
- protects against infections
- serve as frameworks
- fill spaces
- produces blood cells
- helps repair tissue damage
What are the major cell types of connective tissue?
- fibroblast
- macrophages
- mast cells
Characteristics of fibroblast cells
- Has a lot of rough E.R
- most common “fixed” cell
- produces 3 types of fibers through secretion of proteins (collagenous, elastic, reticular)
- found in most tissues of the body
3 types of fibers produced by fibroblast
collagenous
elastic
reticular
Characteristics of macrophages
- originates as white blood cells
- can be either fixed or actively mobile
- function is phagocytosis (eats unwanted particles from tissues)
Characteristics of mast cells
- specialized cells
- usually located near blood vessels
- releases heparin
- prevents blood clotting by increasing blood flow
- releases histamines
- used to increase blood flow to tissues
Characteristics of Collagenous fiber
- composed of protein collagen
- formed in long parallel groups
- is slightly elastic & has great strength
- is the major structural protein in the body
- found in almost every organ/structure
Characteristics of Elastic fiber
- composed of spring like protein called elastin
- fibers branch and form complex networks
- stretches easily
- is weaker than collagen
- found in connective tissues of vocal cords, air passages, & large blood vessels
Characteristics of Reticular fiber
- made of small, thin collagenous fibers
- highly branched
- forms delicate supportive networks
- found in liver, spleen & lymph nodes
Characteristics of Areolar/Loose CT
- contains mainly fibroblast
- forms thin, delicate membranes
- has collagen & elastic fibers
- underlies most epithelium layers
- binds skin to underlying organs
- fills spaces between muscles
- found in intestine
Characteristics of Adipose CT
- cells called adipocytes
- cytoplasm filled with lipids for storage
- is a framework of collagen fibers -
- contains: fibroblast, leukocytes (WBCs), & macrophages
- found everywhere
Characteristics of Reticular CT
- composed of thin, collagenous fibers
- forms a 3-D structure
- supports walls of internal organs/structures
- found in liver, spleen, lymphatic tissues
Characteristics of Dense CT
- multiple, closely packed thick collagen fibers
- also has network of elastic fibers
- has a poor blood supply
- binds structures
Characteristics of Regular Dense CT
- closely packed fibers
- fibers run parallel
- very strong
- found in tendons & ligaments
Characteristics of Dense Irregular CT
- not as thick as regular
- interwoven & randomly organized
- can withstand tension from many directions
- found in dermis of skin
Characteristic of Elastic CT
- multiple bands of parallel elastic fibers
- gives support but allows movement
- found: ligaments of vertebral column, large arteries & air passages
Characteristics of Cartilage CT
- is highly rigid
- formed by chondrocytes
- has elastic & collagen fibers
- high water content
- poor blood supply
- framework for bone formation
- support of structures
- protection
- attachment sites for other structures
what are the three types of cartilage
- hyaline
- elastic
- fibrocartilage
Characteristic of hyaline cartilage
- Most common type
- Has both collagen and elastic fibers in about equal amounts
- Used as framework for Long Bone formation
- Found:
- Ends of bones
- Soft part of nose
- Supporting rings of respiratory passages
characteristic of elastic cartilage
- More Flexible than Hyaline
- Many MORE Elastic fibers compared to the number of Collagen fibers
- Usually found in thin layers within a structure
- Found:
- External ears
- Parts of Larynx
characteristic of fibrocartilage
- Very tough and dense
- Many MORE collagenous fibers compared to the number of elastic fibers -
Acts as a “Shock-absorber” in most places
- Found:
- Intervertebral discs
- Knees (between)
- Pubis Symphysis
characteristic of bone tissue
- Most rigid of ALL the connective tissues
- Hardness due to deposited minerals
- Calcium phosphate -Calcium carbonate
- Also contains high content of collagen
- Functions:
- Protects vital organs
- Brain, thoracic cavity
- Support for muscles
- Stores minerals (Ca2+, P, F)
- Contains Bone Marrow
What are the cell types of bone tissues? What do they mean?
Osteoblast – growing/building cell
Osteocyte – mature cell
Osteoclast – re-absorption
characteristics of blood tissue
cells are suspended in fluid called plasma
plasma contains proteins, electrolytes, sugar, fats, etc
produced by blood marrow
has 3 types of cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, platlets
