Module 1 (Connective Tissue) Flashcards
Connective tissue
Most widespread and abundant type of tissue in the human body
Most diverse among the 4 types of tissues
Functions of connective tissue
Support and protection
Structural framework
Exchange of nutrients and metabolic waste
Storage and repair
Defense
Support and protection
The bones of the skull protect the brain
Kidneys are surrounded by fat padding
Structural framework for the body
Cartilage supports body structures such as the trachea, ears and nose
Bones of the skeleton provide framework for skeletal muscles
Medium for exchange of nutrients and metabolic waste
Blood serves as a medium that carries gases, nutrients, wast, and blood cells to different parts of the body
Storage and repair
Bones store minerals such as calcium
Fat serves as a major energy reservoir for the body
Defense
Connective tissue acts as a physical barrier, through white blood cells and antibody production
Cells of connective tissue
Many different kinds of cells can be found in CTs
Diversity of cells in CTs
In some CTs, there is a large diversity of cell types, in others, diversity is low
Fixed and wandering cells in CT
Some cells are fixed (permanent residents) others are wandering (migrants who have entered the CT from blood in response to specific stimuli)
Three types of fibres secreted by fibroblasts
Collagen fibers, reticular fibers, elastic fibers
What are fibres made up of
Formed by proteins made of long peptide chains
Different components and proportions of fibre types lead to diverse functions
Ground substances
Occupy space between the cells and fibres of CT
Characteristics of ground substances
High water content, transparent, colourless, and viscous
Types of connective tissue
Connective tissue proper
Supporting connective tissue
Two types of connective tissue proper
Loose CT and Dense CT
Two types of supporting connective tissue
Bone and cartilage
Loose CT
Has more ground substance with few CT fibres
Example of loose CT
Adipose tissue (fat cells)
Characteristics of adipose tissue
Specialized type of loose CT where fat cells account for most of its volume
Functions of adipose tissue
Acts as a padding, insulates against heat loss through skin, serves as packing or filler around and between structures
Dense CT
Less ground substance with more CT fibres
Example of dense CT
Elastic tissue
Characteristics of elastic tissue
Specialized type of dense CT composed of bundles of thick parallel elastic fibres between which we find some collagen and fibroblasts
Has the ability to stretch and recoil
Bone
Important structural tissue that forms the framework of the body
Functions of bone
Support
Locomotion
Protection
Blood cell production
Mineral metabolism
Cartilage
Structural component of the body
Characteristic of cartilage
Firm tissue, softer and more flexible than bone
Where is cartilage found
Joints between moveable bones
Between the vertebrae in the spine
Ears and nose
Bronchial tubes or airways
Specialized (fluid) connective tissues
Blood and lymph
Blood
Fluid within blood vessels and the heart
Performs a number of essential functions
Lymph
Interstitial fluid that is collected into thin-walled lymphatic vessels and transported to the cardiovascular system
What is interstitial fluid
Fluid that bathes cells
Range of consistency of CT
Ranges from gel-like softness of areolar CT to the hardness of bone
Types of CT
Losse CT
Dense regular CT
Dense irregular CT
Components of CT
Exists in a number of forms but all types have 3 basic structural elements
Cells
Fibers
Ground substance (Intercellular substance)
Fibers of CT
Collagen fibers
Reticular fibers
Elastic fibers
Collagen fibers
Most common fiber type
Flexible fibers with a high tensile strength
Appearance of collagen fibers
Microscopic structure of collagen fiber appears similar to rope
Reticular fibers
Thin fibers that from a branching interwoven network with no common alignment
Appearance of reticular fibers
Thinnest of the 3
Elastic fibers
Thick and branched, have rubber-like material that is able to stretch
Appearance of elastic fibers
Appear wavy or curly
What is the bone composed of
1/3 organic
2/3 inorganic
What do organic components include
Cells, fibers, and ground substance
What do inorganic components include
Minerals and salt which provide rigidity of the bone
What are osteons
Structured pattern of repeating cylindrical structures that make up the bone
What is each osteon made of
Concentric rings with a hollow central canal
Also called the Haversian canal
Where are the cellular components of bone located
Between concentric rings
Components of cartilage
Cells
Fibers
Ground substance
What are the cells of cartilage primarily
Chondrocytes, which are located throughout the ground substance in small spaces call lacunae
What is lacunae
Small spaces in cartilage that house one or more chondrocytes
Fibers of cartilage
Can include various collagen or elastic fibers scattered throughout
Ground substance of cartilage
A firm gel that makes cartilage solid
Additional components of cartilage
Perichondrium and lacunae
What is perichondrium
Dense irregular CT that envelopes cartilage to provide nutrients to the cartilage
What are the 3 types of cartilage
Hyaline
Fibrocartilage
Elastic
What is the most common type of cartilage
Hyaline
Anatomical characteristics of hyaline cartilage
Wear-resistant tissue that is designed to bear and distribute weight
Strong, rubbery, and flexible tissue
Location of hyaline cartilage
Joint surface of moveable joints
Walls of the nose, trachea, bronchi, and ribs
Anatomical characteristics of fibrocartilage
Tough and inflexible
Durable and resistant to compression
Location of fibrocartilage
Intervertebral discs and symphysis pubis
Anatomical characteristics of elastic cartilage
More flexible than hyaline cartilage
Location of elastic cartilage
External ear, eustachian tube (connects ear to nose), and epiglottis (barrier to trachea during swallowing food or drink)
