Introduction to rheumatology Flashcards
What is 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 3 classes of connective tissue?
- Cells
- Fibres
- Ground substance
What are the cells in connective tissue?
1- Fibroblast 2 - Macrophage 3 - Mast Cell 4 - Plasma Cell 5 - Lymphocytes 6 - Leukocytes 7 - Adipose Cell
What are the different types of fibres in connective tissue?
- Reticular
- Elastic
- Collagen
What are the different types of ground substance in connective tissue?
- Macromolecules
- Multi-adhesive glycoproteins
Does connective tissue have a nerve supply?
Yes (except cartilage)
Does connective tissue occur on free tissue?
No
Are connective tissue vascular?
Yes highly vascular (except cartilage and tendons)
Where is the ground substance?
Between the cells and fibers
What is the function of the matrix ground substance?
•Between the cells and fibers •Supports cells •Binds them together •Provides a medium through which substances are exchanged. Ex. Hyaluronic Acid
What are collagen fibres?
- Strong, resist forces, flexible
* Made of collagen (most abundant protein in the body)
What are elastic fibres?
- Smaller in diameter than collagen fibres
- Branch to form network
- Made of protein elastin
What are reticular fibres?
- Provide support for the walls of blood vessels
* Made of collagen with a glycoprotein covering
Describe fibroblasts
- Large flat cells with branching processes.
- Migrate throughout connective tissue secreting the fibres and ground substance
Describe macrophages
- Develop from white blood cells.
- Surround and engulf material by phagocytosis
Describe mast cells
- Alongside blood vessels that supply connective tissue.
- Produce histamine – a chemical that dilates blood vessels.
Describe adipocytes
- “Fat cells”
- Store triglycerides
What is the most abundant protein in the body?
Collagen
What are the different types of connective tissue?
- Tissue proper: loose/ dense
- Cartilage:hyaline/elastic/fibrocatilage
- Bone tissue: spongy/compact
- Blood
What are the different types of loose connective tissue proper?
- Areolar
- Adipose
- Reticular
What are different types of dense connective tissue proper?
- Regular
- Irregular
- Elastic
What is the function of connective tissue proper?
- Binding tissue
* Resists mechanical stress esp. tension
What are the cells in connective tissue proper?
- Fibroblasts
- Fibrocytes
- Defense cells
- Fat cells
What is the matrix in connective tissue proper
- Gel like ground substance
* Collagen, reticular and elastic collage
Does cartilage have vascular and nerve supply?
Cartilage is AVASCULAR and NO nerve supply (but the perichondrium does)
What is the function of cartilage?
- Strengthen and supports connective tissue
- Resists compression
- Cushions and support body structures
What are the cells in cartilage?
- Chondroblasts – in growing cartilage
* Chondrocytes
What is the matrix in cartilage?
- Gel-like ground substance
* Fibres: collagen, elastic fibres in some