Intro to rheumatology Flashcards
What are the functions of connective tissue?
- binds together, supports and strengthens other body tissues
- protects and insulates internal organs
- compartmentalises structures such as skeletal muscle
- the major transport system within the body
- site of stored energy reserves
- main site of immune responses
What are the three classes of components for connective tissue?
- Cells:
- fibroblast
- macrophage
- mast cell
- plasma cell
- lymphocytes
- leukocytes
- adipose cells - Fibres
- reticular
- elastic
- collagen - Ground substance
- macromolecules
- multi-adhesive glycoproteins
What are fibroblasts and what is their function?
- large flat cells with branching processes
- migrate throughout connective tissue secreting the fibres and ground substance
What are mast cells and what is their function?
- alongside blood vessels that supply connective tissue
- produce histamine
What is the function of reticular fibres?
- provide support for the walls of blood vessels
- made of collagen with a glycoprotein covering
What is the ground substance of connective tissues?
- between cells and fibres
- support cells and bind them together
- provide a medium through which substances are exchanged e.g hyaluronic acid
What is the most abundant protein in the body?
-collagen
What is the main function of connective tissue matrix fibres (collagen, elastin, reticular) ?
-provide strength and support to connective tissue
What are the six types of connective tissues ?
(-vary by the fibres, ground substance and cells contained in it)
- loose connective tissue
- adipose tissue
- blood
- fibrous connective tissue
- cartilage
- bone
What is connective tissue proper and what is its function?
- Loose connective tissue:
- areolar
- adipose
- reticular - Dense connective tissue
- regular
- irregular
- elastic
Function:
- binding tissue
- resists mechanical stress especially tension
What cells are present in connective tissue proper and in its matrix?
Cells:
- fibroblasts
- fibrocytes
- defense cells
- fat cells
Matrix:
- gel like ground substance
- collagen, reticular and elastic collagen
What is the function of cartilage, the cells involved and the matrix composition?
-cartilage is avascular and no nerve supply (but perichondrium does)
Function:
- strengthen and support connective tissue
- resists compression
- cushions and support body structures
Cells:
- chondroblasts- in growing cartilage
- chondrocytes
Matrix:
- Gel-like ground substance
- Fibres: collagen, elastic fibres in some
What is perichondrium?
the connective tissue that envelops cartilage where it is not at a joint
What are the three types of cartilage?
- Hyaline cartilage
- Elastic cartilage
- Fibrocartilage
What is hyaline cartilage?
- gel like ground substance
- end of long bones to cushion joints and at epiphyseal plates
- most abundant cartilage in the body
- weakest of the 3 types of cartilage
What is fibrocartilage?
- chondrocytes scattered among visible bundles of collagen fibres
- no perichondrium
- strongest of the 3 types of cartilage
- found in the intervertebral discs
- found in the intervertebral discs
- collagen fibre in matrix
What is elastic cartilage?
- chondrocytes located in a threadlike network of elastic fibres
- provides strength, elasticity and maintains the shape of certain structures (like the external ear)
- elastic fibres in matrix
What is the function of bone tissue, the cells involved and what is the matrix made of?
Function:
- resists compression and tension
- protect and support
Cells:
- osteoblasts
- osteocytes
Matrix:
- gel-like ground substance
- calcified with inorganic salts
- fibres: collagen
What is osseous tissue?
-bone tissue
What are the types of bone tissue?
- Compact:
- osteon- basic unit of compact bone
- lamellae- concentric circles of matrix
- lacunae- spaces in the matrix that house cells
- osteocytes- mature bone cells - Spongy:
- trabeculae- columns of bone with spaces filled with red bone marrow
What is in the lacuna of elastic cartilage?
-chondrocytes
What is in the lacuna of fibrocartilage?
-chondrocytes
What is an osteon?
-basic unit of compact bone
What is lamellae?
-concentric circles of matrix
What is the function of blood, the cells involved and the components of the matrix?
-complex cell formation and differentiation
Function:
-transport oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, wastes and other substances
Cells:
- erythrocytes (RBC)- transport oxygen
- leukocytes (WBC)- function in immunity
- platelets- blood clotting
Matrix:
- liquid
- plasma
- no fibres
What are the two main types of connective tissue proper?
-loose and dense