MA2 - Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four components of connective tissue?

A

fixed (resident) cells; wandering (immune) cells; fibers; ground substance (stuff between cells and fibers)

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2
Q

Describe the features of ordinary connective tissue. (3)

A

soft; pliable; has diverse collection of cells

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3
Q

Describe the features of bone. (3)

A

mineralized; stiff; has bone cells (i.e. osteocytes, osteoblasts, etc.)

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4
Q

Describe the features of cartilage. (4)

A

firm; NOT mineralized; type of type II collagen matrix; has cartilage cells

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5
Q

Describe the characteristic features of areolar connective tissue.

A

abundant ground substance; wandering (immune) cells; sparse mixture of elastic fibers (type I) and collagen fibers (type III)

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6
Q

What is the function of the abundant ground substance in areolar connective tissue? (2)

A

slows diffusion and hinders movement of invading microorganisms; provides lubrication

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7
Q

Give two example locations of areolar connective tissue.

A

underlies epithelia (i.e. lamina propria or papillary dermis); surrounds blood vessels

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8
Q

What are the characteristic features of reticular connective tissue?

A

reticular (branching) fibers (type III collagen)

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9
Q

What is the function of reticular fibers in reticular connective tissue?

A

fibers produce a network that provides support for parenchymal cells.

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10
Q

What are the three types of loose connective tissue (few fibers, many cells)?

A

areolar connective tissue; reticular connective tissue; adipose tissue

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11
Q

Give three example locations of reticular connective tissue.

A

bone marrow; lymph nodes; spleen

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12
Q

What are the two characteristic features of adipose tissue?

A

abundant adipocytes; abundant vasculature

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13
Q

What are the functions of adipocytes? (3)

A

store energy; generate heat; provide cushioning

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14
Q

What are the three types of adipose tissue?

A

brown adipose tissue; white adipose tissue; beige adipose tissue

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15
Q

What is the function of brown adipose tissue?

A

consumes energy to make heat

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16
Q

What is the function of white adipose tissue? (2)

A

stores energy; provides cushioning

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17
Q

What is the function of beige adipose tissue? (2)

A

derived from white adipose tissue; consumes energy to make heat

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18
Q

What are the two types of dense connective tissue (many fibers, few cells)?

A

dense regular connective tissue; dense irregular connective tissue

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19
Q

What is the primary difference between loose and dense connective tissue?

A

loose = few fibers, many cells; dense = many fibers, few cells

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20
Q

Describe the features of dense regular connective tissue.

A

mostly type I collagen fibers arranged in non-random directions

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21
Q

Describe the function of dense regular connective tissue.

A

provides strong connection in direction of fibers

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22
Q

Give two examples of dense regular connective tissue.

A

cornea; tendons + ligaments

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23
Q

Describe the features of dense irregular connective tissue.

A

rich in type I collagen fibers aligned in multiple directions

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24
Q

Describe the function of dense irregular connective tissue. (2)

A

serves to protect other tissue; provides strong internal support

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25
Q

Give two examples of where you can find dense irregular connective tissue.

A

organ capsules; dermis

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26
Q

What are the three subtypes of dense irregular connective tissue?

A

fibrous connective; fibroelastic connective; fibromuscular connective

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27
Q

Describe the properties of fibrous connective tissue. (2)

A

stiff; fibers dominated by collagens

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28
Q

Describe the properties of fibroelastic connective tissue. (2)

A

elastic; type I collagen + elastic fibers

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29
Q

Describe the properties of fibromuscular connective tissue. (2)

A

contractile; collagen + smooth muscle fibers

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30
Q

What is the most common type of dense connective tissue?

A

dense irregular connective tissue

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31
Q

Describe the features of brown adipocytes. (2)

A

abundant mitochondria; many lipid droplets

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32
Q

Describe the metabolic rate of brown adipocytes.

A

very metabolically active because of high rate of fatty acid consumption in mitochondria

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33
Q

Brown adipocytes express what protein that allows them to generate heat?

A

express uncoupling protein (UCP1), which allows protons to leak across inner mitochondrial membrane, generating heat

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34
Q

Brown adipocytes are associated with what vascular structure?

A

associate with numerous blood capillaries to transfer heat

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35
Q

Brown adipocytes are most and least abundant in

A

most abundant in newborns, least abundant in adults

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36
Q

Describe the features of white adipocytes. (2)

A

few mitochondria; only one very large lipid droplet

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37
Q

Describe the metabolic rate of white adipocytes.

A

less metabolically active than brown adipocytes, probably because they’re primarily used for energy storage

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38
Q

White adipocytes produce

A

endocrine factors (adipokines) to regulate whole body energy metabolism

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39
Q

Under what conditions can white adipocytes become metabolically active?

A

in response to cold temperature → become converted into beige adipocytes

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40
Q

Describe the features of beige adipocytes.

A

though derived from white adipocytes, they have abundant mitochondria and produce uncoupling protein like brown adipocytes

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41
Q

How can brown adipocytes be recognized in section?

A

eosinophilic cytosol w/ many small lipid droplets

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42
Q

Macrophages are derived from

A

monocytes or embryonic precursors

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43
Q

What is the function of macrophages? (2)

A

function as innate immune system sentinels; phagocytose debris

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44
Q

When activated by an immune response, what do macrophages produce?

A

chemotactic factors that recruit granulocytes (i.e. neutrophils); pyrogens that increase body temperature

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45
Q

What are the components of the mononuclear phagocytic system? (3)

A

wandering monocytes; resident macrophages; dendritic cells

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46
Q

What are histiocytes?

A

resident macrophages in ordinary connective tissue

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47
Q

What are Kupffer cells?

A

resident macrophages in liver sinusoids

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48
Q

What are nurse cells?

A

macrophages in bone barrow

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49
Q

What are microglia?

A

macrophages of the CNS

50
Q

What are dust cells?

A

alveolar macrophages of the lung

51
Q

Mast cells are derived from

A

bone marrow progenitors

52
Q

What is the function of mast cells?

A

serve as innate and adaptive immune system sentinels

53
Q

Where are mast cells frequently found?

A

found in connective tissue that is subjacent to an epithelium or near a blood vessel/nerve

54
Q

How can mast cells be identified in section? (2)

A

have round nuclei; have uniformly-sized granules that stain reddish-purple with toluidine blue OR basophilic with H&E

55
Q

What are plasma cells?

A

terminally differentiated B lymphocytes (B cells)

56
Q

What do plasma cells produce?

A

antibodies via constitutive secretion (IgA/IgG/IgE)

57
Q

How can plasma cells be recognized in section? (2)

A

off-center, heterochromatic circular nucleus + large, highly basophilic cytoplasm

58
Q

Plasma cells are particularly abundant in what tissue structures? (4)

A

lamina propria; lymph nodes; spleen; bone marrow

59
Q

Plasma cells produce IgA in what tissue structure?

A

lamina propria

60
Q

What do fibroblasts synthesize?

A

fibers; ground substances of extracellular matrix

61
Q

In addition to synthesizing fibers, what is an additional function of fibroblasts?

A

bind to and remodel extracellular matrices

62
Q

Fibroblasts can differentiate into

A

myofibroblasts, in response to a need for wound healing

63
Q

How can fibroblasts be identified in section?

A

highly elongated, usually along the axis of the fiber they’re attaching to

64
Q

How can you differentiate between a fibroblast and a myofibroblast in section?

A

myofibroblasts have a darker cytosol due to increased numbers of ribosomes

65
Q

Myofibroblasts principally express what protein?

A

smooth muscle actin

66
Q

What are the three principal types of bone cells?

A

osteoblasts; osteoclasts; osteocytes

67
Q

What are the three principal types of cartilage cells?

A

chondroblasts; chondroclasts; chondocytes

68
Q

What are mesenchymal stem cells?

A

multipotent stem cells that can produce adipocytes, fibroblasts, bone cells, etc.

69
Q

Where are mesenchymal stem cells found?

A

in most connective tissues

70
Q

Where do mesenchymal stem cells originate?

A

believed to originate in bone marrow

71
Q

What is the function of mesenchymal stem cells? (2)

A

tissue repair; inflammation response

72
Q

What are the fixed (resident) cells? (6)

A

brown adipocytes; white adipocytes; macrophages; mast cells; plasma cells; fibroblasts [mnemonic: BWMMPF]

73
Q

Most wandering lymphocytes can be classified as

A

T cells, but a small fraction are B cells

74
Q

How can lymphocytes be recognized in section?

A

small size; thin rim of basophilic cytosol; heterochromatic nucleus

75
Q

What are the two primary types of granulocytes?

A

neutrophils; eosinophils

76
Q

What is the function of neutrophils?

A

principal defenders against bacterial infections by phagocytosing bacteria

77
Q

How can neutrophils be identified in section? (2)

A

highly segmented nuclei (in contrast to eosinophils, which have bi-lobed nuclei) + pale cytosol

78
Q

What is the function of eosinophils?

A

defend against parasitic infections; can also cause allergic reactions

79
Q

How can eosinophils be identified in section?

A

bi-lobed nuclei

80
Q

Dendritic cells are derived from

A

bone marrow progenitors or monocytes

81
Q

Upon activation, what do dendritic cells do?

A

migrate to lymph nodes and stimulate T cells

82
Q

Describe the process of collagen synthesis. (5)

A

fibrillar collagen synthesized as preprocollagen in RER → P and K residues of preprocollagen hydroxylated in ER → glycosylation allows preprocollagen to form coiled-coil trimers called procollagen → globular ends of procollagen cleaved to form tropocollagen → tropocollagen + lysyl oxidase = crosslinked tropocollagen in fibrils → fibrils become fibers

83
Q

Differentiate between preprocollagen and procollagen.

A

procollagen = hydroxylated + trimerized form of preprocollagen before secretion

84
Q

Differentiate between procollagen and tropocollagen.

A

tropocollagen = secreted + cleaved form of procollagen but before assembly into fibers

85
Q

Type I collagen is mainly synthesized by

A

fibroblasts

86
Q

Type I collagen can be best visualized using what stain?

A

Masson’s trichrome

87
Q

Describe the structure of Type I collagen.

A

large banded fibrils and fibers that can be combined into bundles

88
Q

Describe the structure of Type II collagen.

A

banded fibrils but smaller than Type I collagen fibrils

89
Q

Describe the distribution of Type I collagen.

A

typically found in bone, tendon, submucosa, dermis

90
Q

Describe the distribution of Type II collagen.

A

very restricted distribution — only found in cartilage or part of eye

91
Q

Type II collagen is synthesized by

A

chondrocytes of cartilage

92
Q

Describe the structure of Type III collagen. (2)

A

banded fibrils but smaller than Type I collagen fibrils; BRANCHED

93
Q

Describe the distribution of Type III collagen.

A

wide distribution — most common type of collagen in reticular connective tissue

94
Q

Type III collagen is best visualized with what stain?

A

silver staining

95
Q

Describe the structure of Type IV collagen.

A

does not form fibrils, but a meshwork/gel instead

96
Q

Describe the distribution of Type IV collagen. (2)

A

present in basal laminae of epithelial cells; external laminae of muscle cells

97
Q

Type IV collagen is made by (2)

A

epithelial cells (basal laminae) or muscle cells (external laminae)

98
Q

Elastic fibers and elastic lamellae are comprised of

A

fibrillin; elastin

99
Q

Describe the properties of fibrillin.

A

forms a microfibrillar structure that surrounds elastic fibers and lamellae; templates deposition of elastin

100
Q

Describe the function of elastin.

A

forms amorphous core of elastic fibers and lamellae

101
Q

Elastins are crosslinked together by

A

aldehydes made by lysyl oxidase

102
Q

Describe the structure of elastin in the presence and absence of tension.

A

under force = protein elongates; without tension = random coil structure

103
Q

Describe the composition and activity of elastic fibers in the lungs.

A

highly branched elastic fibers that recoil during exhalation to contract airways

104
Q

Describe the composition and activity of elastic fibers in the dermis.

A

thick and thin elastic fibers that give skin its resiliency

105
Q

Describe how elastic lamellae are utilized in vasculature.

A

lamellae form layers in arteries and arterioles where they reduce systole pressure (via expansion) and contribute to diastole (via recoil)

106
Q

What is ground substance?

A

filler between cells and fibers of connective tissue

107
Q

What is the function of ground substance? (2)

A

cushions/lubricates the aqueous passages of connective tissue; binds water and increases viscosity

108
Q

Describe how ground substance stains.

A

stains poorly by both H&E and EM

109
Q

What are proteoglycans?

A

highly glycosylated proteins comprised of core protein w/ many large glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) attached

110
Q

In proteoglycans, what drives function?

A

the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

111
Q

Describe the structure of glycosaminoglycans.

A

long chains of repeating disaccharides, some of which are sulfated, increasing their negative charge

112
Q

What is a consequence of the negative charge of glycosaminoglycans?

A

they bind to water and repel each other, allowing them to fill space and resist compression

113
Q

How do proteoglycans function in signaling?

A

they can bind to growth factors, which prevents their diffusion (i.e. helps prevent movement of paracrine factors into circulation)

114
Q

Describe the properties of glycoproteins.

A

less glycosylated than proteoglycans and their function is therefore dominated by the protein part, not the carbohydrate part

115
Q

What are the two primary glycoproteins?

A

fibronectin; laminin

116
Q

Describe the function of fibronectin.

A

promotes covering of wounds by epithelial cells after injury

117
Q

Fibronectin binds to (4)

A

collagen; proteoglycans; fibrin; integrin of cells

118
Q

Laminin is made by

A

epithelial and muscle cells

119
Q

Laminin exists in association with

A

type IV collagen

120
Q

What is the function of laminin?

A

associates epithelial and muscle cell with underlying connective tissue

121
Q

What is the glycocalyx?

A

the combination of proteoglycans that have transmembrane domains and are embedded in the plasma membranes of cells