Function of connective tissues Flashcards
What are the 5 types of connective tissues?
Fat (adipose), Bone, Blood, cartilage and fibrous. Loose CT and Dense CT.
What are the 7 main functions of connective tissues?
Protection, support, binding of organs (interconnecting different types of tissues) , movement, energy storage, heat production and transport.
What are the 3 different types of cartilage? and describe their function.
Hyaline, fibrous and elastic
Describe some key facts of connective tissue
CT is one of 4 types of tissue within the body, and is most abundant. It is highly vascular and severs may functions.
What are the 3 basic components of all CT?
Specialised cells, extracellular protein fibres and a fluid called ground substance.
What constitutes the matrix in CT?
The extracellular protein fibres and the ground substance. The matrix surrounds the specialised cells. The cells make up most of the bulk of the CT but the matrix usually gives the most volume.
What are the 3 different classifications of CT and what do they include?
Connective tissue proper: is divide into loose and dense CT on the basis of the relative proportions of cells, fibres, and ground substance. It is a broad category resulting in CT with very different structural and functional properties.
Loose CT: fibres create a loose open framework. The 3 sub types of losses CT are areolar tissue, adipose tissue, reticular tissue.
Dense CT: fibres are densely packed. The sub types of dense CT include: dense regular, dense irregular and elastic.
Fluid CT: have a distinct population of cells suspended in a watery matrix that contains dissolved proteins.
Blood: Contained within the cardiovascular system
Lymph: Contained in the lymphatic system.
Supporting CT: differs from CT proper in that it has a less diverse cell population and a matrix containing much more densely packed fibres.
Sub types of supporting CT:
Bone: the matrix of bone is said to be calcified as it contains deposits of minerals (primarily calcium salt). Solid crystalline matrix. Canaliculi form passage ways in the bone matrix that creates branching and allows exchange of materials between blood vessels and osteocytes. Can undergo remodelling become stronger with exercise. As bone tissue develops, the osteoblasts become arranged in circular patterns that deposit the calcium matrix in concentric rings (lamellae) around a central blood vessel. The osteoblasts are arranged around a blood vessel situated in the osteonic canal in the center of the lamellae or concentric rings.
Cartilage: the matrix of cartilage is a gel whose characteristics vary with the predominant types of fibres. Solid rubbery matrix.
cartilage cells are called chondrocytes. Cannot undergo remodeling. It is avascular,
What is the function supporting CT bone and cartilage? Describe some of its specific locations and functions at these sites.
Bone: the volume of ground substance in bone is very small.The matrix i s dominated with collagen fibers and two thirds calium deposits. The minerals are arranged around the collagen fibers. This gives a strength from the hard minerals but relative flexibility from the collagen making them highly resistant to shattering.
Cartilage:
Hyaline cartilage:
Location: between tips or ribs and bones of the sternum; covering bone surfaces at synovial joints; supporting larynx , trachea, and bronchi, forming part of the nasal septum.
Hyaline, or clear cartilage, is clear in appearance because it lacks fibers and is mainly comprised of the chondromucoprotein matrix
Function:Provides stiff somewhat flexible support; reduces friction between bony surfaces.
Elastic cartilage:
Location:Auricle of external ear; epiglottis; auditory canal; cuneiform cartilages of larynx.
Function: provides support but tolerates distortion without damage and returns to original shape.
Fibrocartilage:
Location:Pads within knee joints; between pubic bones of pelvis; intervertebral disc.
Function: Resists compression; prevents bone to bone contact;limits relative movement.
Cartilage cells occupy small chambers called lacunae.
Describe and explain the 3 different fibres in CT.
Collagen fibers: each collagen fiber consists of a bundle of fibrous protein subunits, wound together like stands of rope. Making it both strong and flexible. Tendons connect skeletal muscle to bone and are almost entirely made of collagen fibers. Liagments connect bone to bone. Collagen fibers in liagments and tendons allow them to withstand tremendous forces.
Reticular fibers: have the same subunits as collagen fibers but are arranged differently. They are thinner than collagen fibers, they form an interwoven framework that is tough yet flexible. As they form a network rather than sharing a common alignment they are are able to resist forces from varying directions.
Elastic fibers: are branched and wavy , after stretching they will return to their original length.
What is the function of areolar CT?
Areolar connective tissues hold organs in place and attaches epithelial tissue to other underlying tissues. It also serves as a reservoir of water and salts for surrounding tissues. Almost all cells obtain their nutrients from and release their wastes into areolar connective tissue.
What do elastic ligaments do and what fiber do they mainly consist of?
Elastic ligaments are dominated by elastic fibers. Relatively rare but have important jobs such as interconnecting vertebrae.
What is the function of adipose CT? (connective tissue proper loose).
Location: deep to the skin especially to the sides, buttocks, breasts; padding arounf the eyeballs and kidneys.
Function: provides padding and cushions shocks; insulates (reduces heat loss). Stores energy reserves.
What is the function of reticular CT? (connective tissue proper loose).
The reticular fibre framework in the recticular tissue stabilise the relative positions of an organ’s bllod vessels, nerves, and other structures despite changing position and the pull of gravity.
Reticular tissue is found in the liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow.
What is the function of lymph?
As the fluid passes along the lymphatic vessels, cells of the immune system monitor the composition of the lymph and respond to signals of injury or infection. The lymph contains 99% lymphocytes, the rest is primarily macrophages and microphages.
This recirculation of fluid from the cardiovascular system, through the interstitial fluid , to the lymph and then back to the cardiovascular system is a continuous process that is essential to homoeostasis. It helps eliminate local differences in the level of nutrients, wastes, or toxins, maintains blood volume and alerts the immune system to infections that may be underway in the peripheral tissues.
What is the location and function of dense regular CT?
In dense regular connective tissue collagen fibers are parallel to each other, and tightly packed.
Location: between skeletal muscles and skeleton (tendons). Between bones (ligaments). Stabilising positions of internal organs, covering skeletal muscles; deep fasciae.
Function: Provides firm attachment; conducts pull of muscles; reduces friction between muscles; stabilises relative position of bones.
