Fibrous Connective tissue (My notes) Flashcards
What are connective tissues?
Connective tissues are supportive as they anchor organs and join the other body tissues into a structurally integrated whole
What is the general composition of connective tissues?
Few cells and Extracellular (intercellular) Matrix
What makes up the extracellular matrix?
Collagen protein fibers
Ground substance
Other supporting biochemicals (structural glycoproteins)
Are connective tissues vascularized?
May be vascularized or avascular (cartilage)
Functions of connective tisssue?
- Binding and support ie Ligaments
- Defense ie macrophages, lymphocytes, mast cells of different tissues
- Storage ie adipose tissue
- Protection ie. adipose tissue
- Transport or materials between blood and other tissues
What is ground substance?
Amorphous (without shape), gel-like material
Composed of charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)- mucopolysaccharides (polymers of disaccharide subunits) and proteoglycans- mucoproteins
Why is ground substance particularly important?
Aids in the transport of nutrients and waste, due to their component charges they are hydrophilic they can mix with tissue fluid readily.
For instance, substances from tissues can be transported into the blood.
What are the components of ex
What are structural glycoproteins?
Glycoproteins are involved in anchoring and fastening cells to extracellular material, including the basement membrane
What are the two types of fibers present in the connective tissue?
Collagen
Elastic
What is a collagen molecule?
Protein that has three alpha-helical chains would be in a triple helix
Before being active it is called tropocollagen which is a form of collagen that needs to be cleaved in order to be active.
What is a collagen fiber?
Many collagen molecules packed together into a repeating pattern via crosslinking
What is the most abundant type of collagen?
Type I
High tensile strength and flexible, but inelastic
What collagen fibers form the framework for the liver, lymphatic tissue and bone marrow?
Type III collagen fibers
Thin, branched reticular fibers
What are elastic fibers made of?
Elastin (protein)
Fibrillin (glycoprotein→ regulates deposition of elastin)
Where are elastic fibers most important?
The elasticity is important in organs that can be deformed and return to their shape (skin & larger arteries)
Name the types of cells present in adult fibrous connective tissues?
FLAP MoM
Fibroblasts
Mast cells
Macrophages
Adipocytes
Lymphocytes
Plasma cells
What are the two types of Embryonic connective tissues?
Mesenchyme
Mucous (Wharton’s Jelly)
What is mesenchyme?
- Primitive connective tissue with few fibers that form a loose mesh of rudimentary connective tissue.
- Contains spindle shaped cells with potential to develop into various specialized connective tissue cells
- Derived from the mesoderm
What role do mesenchymal cells play in adults?
They play a role in tissue repair
What is muscous tissue?
Embryonic connective tissue found only in the umbilical cord and a few locations in the embryo
Contains fibroblasts and very few collagen fibers coursing through a jelly-like ground substance in the umbilical cord called Wharton’s jelly
What are fibroblasts?
Derived from mesenchymal cells
Responsible for making and maintaining the matrix as they are capable of producing all the components of the ECM
Cells with elongated extensions
What are macrophages?
Derivatives of monocytes which have left circulation and entered the tissue.
What is the function of macrophages?
Engulf foreign or dead cells and debris and present antigens to lymphocytes in the immune responses.