L4: Connective Tissue Flashcards
Functions of connective tissue
- Provides a structural framework for the body
- A medium for exchange of nutrients and metabolic waste
- Defends the body from invasion of antigens
- Storage
- Repair
Describe the structure and function of Ground Substance
- Helps bind CT fibres together with cells
- Has high water content
- Is transparent, colourless, and viscous
Describe structure and properties of collagen fibers
- Made of type I collagen
- Most abundant type of fibre found in CT
- Tightly packed
- Long, straight, and unbranched
- Made of 3 subunits that wound together like strands of a rope
- Strong and flexible
Describe the structure and properties of reticular fibers
- Main makeup component is type III collagen (reticulin)
- Smaller in diameter than type I collagen
- Forms a branching, interwoven network
- Tough and flexible
- Found in spleen, liver, small blood vessels
- Have a high content of glycoproteins
- Can be seen when stained black by silver
Describe the structure and properties of elastic fibers
- Made out of elastin
- Rubber like
- Responsible for the properties of connective tissue
What is the function of fixed/stationary connective tissue cells and provide an example
- Responsible for synthesis, maintenance repair and energy storage
Example: fibroblasts, fibrocytes, macrophages, mesenchymal cells, adipocytes (fat cells)
What is the function of wandering cells in connective tissue and provide an example
- Functions in a defense and immune role
Examples: Free macrophages, mast cells plasma cells, lymphocytes, microphages, white blood cells
Describe the structure, properties, and function of loose CT
- Most common type of CT
- “Packing material” of body
- Fills spaces between organs
- Supports all epithelial tissues
- Surrounds/supports blood vessels and nerves
- Open framework
- Ground substance accounts for most of its volume
- Loosely organized
- Contains elastin fibres
Describe the function, properties, and structure of dense regular CT
- Made up of tightly packed collagen fibres
- All bundles going in same direction
- Found in tendons, ligaments
Describe the function, properties, and structure of dense irregular CT
- Collagen fibers have no consistent orientation
- Provides strength and support
- Found in skin
- Forms the capsules found around all organs
What are the 2 types of supportive CT?
1) cartilage
2) Bone
Describe the structure/function/properties of adipose CT
- Specialized loose CT
- Fat cells account for most of the volume
- Functions as padding
- Insulates
- Packing and filling material
- Common under skin of groin, breasts, and sides
- Surrounds the kidneys
Describe the structure/function/properties of elastic CT
- Form of dense regular CT
- Composed of bundles of thick, parallel elastic fibres
- Has ability to stretch and rebound
- Found underlying transitional epithelium
- Found in walls of large blood vessels
Describe the function/structure/properties of reticular CT
- Specialized loose CT
