Connective Tissues

Question 1

How many types of connective tissues are there?

Answer 1

8

Question 2

What are the types of connective tissue?

Answer 2

Loose

Adipose

Reticular

Dense

Elastic

Cartilage

Bone

Blood

Question 3

What are the general characteristics of connective tissue?

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

What is an extracellular matrix?

Answer 4

• the material surrounding the cells
• composed of protein fibers
• composed of ground substance
• consistency varies from very fluid to almost solid

Question 5

How are connective tissues classified?

Answer 5

• type of fibers present
• arrangement of fibers
• ground substance consistency

Question 6

What are some of the functions of connective tissue?

Answer 6

• bind structures
• stores fat (lipids)
• provide support
• protects against infections
• serve as frameworks
• fill spaces
• produces blood cells
• helps repair tissue damage

Question 7

What are the major cell types of connective tissue?

Answer 7

• fibroblast
• macrophages
• mast cells

Question 8

Characteristics of fibroblast cells

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

3 types of fibers produced by fibroblast

Answer 9

collagenous

elastic

reticular

Question 10

Characteristics of macrophages

Answer 10

• originates as white blood cells
• can be either fixed or actively mobile
• function is phagocytosis (eats unwanted particles from tissues)

Question 11

Characteristics of mast cells

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

Characteristics of Collagenous fiber

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

Characteristics of Elastic fiber

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

Characteristics of Reticular fiber

Answer 14

• made of small, thin collagenous fibers
• highly branched
• forms delicate supportive networks
• found in liver, spleen & lymph nodes

Question 15

Characteristics of Areolar/Loose CT

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

Characteristics of Adipose CT

Answer 16

• cells called adipocytes
• cytoplasm filled with lipids for storage
• is a framework of collagen fibers -
• contains: fibroblast, leukocytes (WBCs), & macrophages
• found everywhere

Question 17

Characteristics of Reticular CT

Answer 17

• composed of thin, collagenous fibers
• forms a 3-D structure
• supports walls of internal organs/structures
• found in liver, spleen, lymphatic tissues

Question 18

Characteristics of Dense CT

Answer 18

• multiple, closely packed thick collagen fibers
• also has network of elastic fibers
• has a poor blood supply
• binds structures

Question 19

Characteristics of Regular Dense CT

Answer 19

• closely packed fibers
• fibers run parallel
• very strong
• found in tendons & ligaments

Question 20

Characteristics of Dense Irregular CT

Answer 20

• not as thick as regular
• interwoven & randomly organized
• can withstand tension from many directions
• found in dermis of skin

Question 21

Characteristic of Elastic CT

Answer 21

• multiple bands of parallel elastic fibers
• gives support but allows movement
• found: ligaments of vertebral column, large arteries & air passages

Question 22

Characteristics of Cartilage CT

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

what are the three types of cartilage

Answer 23

• hyaline
• elastic
• fibrocartilage

Question 24

Characteristic of hyaline cartilage

Answer 24

• 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

Question 25

characteristic of elastic cartilage

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

characteristic of fibrocartilage

Answer 26

• 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

Question 27

characteristic of bone tissue

Answer 27

• 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

Question 28

What are the cell types of bone tissues? What do they mean?

Answer 28

Osteoblast – growing/building cell
Osteocyte – mature cell
Osteoclast – re-absorption

Question 29

characteristics of blood tissue

Answer 29

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