Fibrous Connective Tissue

Question 1

What is the most microscopically and functionally divers group and abundant tissue type?

Answer 1

Connective Tissue

Question 2

What is the main what that connective tissue is unlike epithelia?

Answer 2

connective tissue is never normally exposed to the outside environment

Question 3

What does the ground substance hold?

Answer 3

tissue fluid derived primarily from the blood

-carries oxygen, CO2 , nutrients, and wastes

Question 4

What are the 4 major groups of connective tissue?

Answer 4

• Fibrous CT
• Cartilage CT
• Bone CT
• Blood CT

Question 5

What are some of the functions of connective tissues?

Answer 5

• Structural framework of the body
• protection
• support and interconnects other tissues
• Energy storage
• Transports fluids, cells, dissolved chemicals throughout the body
• defense against invasion by microorganisms

Question 6

What are the different cell types in connective tissue

Answer 6

• Fibroblasts
• mesenchymal cells: CT stem cells
• adipocytes
• Chondrocytes: make the fibriller component and ground substance found in cartilage
• osteoblasts
• HSC’s: Macrophages, mast cells, leukocytes/lymphocytes, and plasma cells

Question 7

What is the ECM of connective tissue made out of?

Answer 7

Fibers and amorphous ground substance

Question 8

What are the different kinds of fibers in the ECM of CT?

Answer 8

• collagen: resist tension/pulling
• Elastic fibers: rubber band things that recoil
• Reticular fibers: form mesh-like network around things like capillaries, connect CT to basement membranes, and they also support the framework for bone marrow and the spleen

Question 9

What constitutes amorphous ground substance?

Answer 9

• proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans: these things are highly charged and hold water. Responsible for cushioning and resisting compressive forces
• Glycoproteins: secreted proteins that have sugar on them. protects them from destruction, and serves as signaling portion of molecules

Question 10

What are the general classes of connective tissue?

Answer 10

• Fibrous CT: loose, reticular, and adipose

- Dense CT: Irregular, regular, and elastic fibers. examples are cartilage CT, Bone CT, and Blood CT

Question 11

What is Areolar CT?

Answer 11

a type of loose CT

• most widespread type
• surrounds nerves, muscles, and blood vessels and underlies almost all epithelia
• well vascularized

Question 12

What is Reticular CT?

Answer 12

type rich in reticular fibers.

-forms an open framework to create a labyrinth for holding free cells

Question 13

What is adipose CT?

Answer 13

similar to areolar tissue but the nutrient-storing capacity is much greater
-richly vascularized

Question 14

What is dense CT?

Answer 14

contains very thick and abundant collagen fibers

• resists extreme strong pulling forces
• consists mainly of fibroblasts

Question 15

What is Irregular dense CT?

Answer 15

thick collagen fibers that are deposited in a random pattern

Question 16

What is Regular Dense CT?

Answer 16

collagen fibers that are deposited in a highly regular pattern

• poorly vascularized
• when not under tension appears wavy

Question 17

What is Elastic dense CT?

Answer 17

rich in elastin fibers such as in bv’s, bronchiole tubes, and certain special ligaments

Question 18

What do epithelia and CT’s combine to form?

Answer 18

membranes that cover and protect other structures and tissues in the body

Question 19

What are the 4 types of membranes?

Answer 19

• mucous: line hollow organs
• Serous membranes: secretes a lubricating fluid resembling serum and lymph into the major body cavities
• Cutaneous: the skin
• synovial: line freely moveable joint cavities