Lab Chapter 4: Histology: Connective Tissue Proper Flashcards
1. Recognize each major tissue found on the virtual slides. 2. Recognize each specific connective tissue type by its complete name. 3. Recognize the specific cell and fiber types in each specific connective tissue type. 4. State the function and location in the body of each specific tissue type.
Collagen Fibers
thick, light-staining strands; provide tensile strength
Elastic Fibers
thin, dark-staining strands (resemble hairs); provide resiliency
Four main classes of Connective Tissue
1) Connective Tissue Proper
2) Cartilage
3) Bone
4) Blood
Connective Tissue Composition
specific types of living cells embedded in a non-living, acellular matrix containing extracellular fibers and an amorphous (unstructured) ground substance
Loose (Areolar) Connective Tissue
Semi-fluid ground substance containing collagen and elastic fibers loosely arranged around fibroblasts and other cells
Function: Wraps and cushions organs, connects epithelium to underlying tissues
Location: most widespread type of connective tissue in body; found beneath epithelium (lamina propria), surrounding organs and capillaries
Dense Regular Connective Tissue
Regularly arranged bundles of closely packed collagen fibers with little ground substance; provides great tensile strength when pulled in direction of fibers (like a rope); fibroblasts are arranged in rows between fibers
Function: binding and connecting
Location: tendons, aponeuroses and ligaments
Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
Irregularly arranged bundles of closely packed collagen fibers with little ground substance; provides great tensile strength in all directions
Function: Binding and connecting
Location: Joint capsules, dermis of skin, submucosa of digestive tract
Adipose Tissue
Cells are specialized for fat storage and do not form ground substance or fibers; resembles a fish net on sides; cytoplasm and nucleus of each cell have been pushed to one side by a single, large, fat-filled vacuole that occupies center of cell
Function: Storage of fat
Location: hypodermis of skin, surrounding kidneys, eyes and other organs, within breast tissue
