review pt2

Question 1

Connective Tissue (CT)

Answer 1

• Most abundant tissue by weight
• Vascularized (unlike epithelium)
• Composed of three main components:
  1. Cells
  2. Extracellular fibers
  3. Ground substance
  Examples: Blood, tendons, fat, cartilage, bone

Question 2

Components of CT: ground substance

Answer 2

• Amorphous, homogeneous material containing glycoproteins
• Medium for nutrient and waste exchange
• Envelops and protects cells
• Acts as a barrier against microbes

Question 3

Components of CT: Extracellular Fibers

Answer 3

• Collagenous fibers – Strong, thick strands of collagen protein
• Reticular fibers – Thin, delicate, branched networks of collagen
• Elastic fibers – Composed of elastin, branched for flexibility

Question 4

Components of CT: Major Cell Types

Answer 4

1. Fixed Cells (remain in CT, produce/maintain matrix)
   - Fibroblasts – Main producer of fibers and ground substance
   - Adipocytes – Store fat
2. Transient Cells (move in/out of CT, involved in repair/protection)
   - Blood cells and other immune-related cells

Question 5

CT Proper

Answer 5

Loose CT (More ground substance, fewer fibers) and Dense CT (More fibers, less ground substance)

Question 6

Areolar Tissue

Answer 6

• Loose, tangle of fibers and cells with thick
  ground substance
  
  • Main cell: Fibroblast
• Functions:
  
  • Surrounds and supports structures
  • Provides nutrients
  • Locations: Mucous membranes, blood
    vessels, around organs, connects skin
    to muscle

Question 7

Adipose Tissue (Fat)

Answer 7

• Loose CT dominated by adipocytes; Highly
  vascularized
  
  • Two types: White adipose & Brown adipose
• Functions:
  
  • Energy storage
  • Shock absorption
  • Thermal insulation
• Locations: throughout the body

Question 8

Reticular Tissue

Answer 8

• Loose CT w/ thin reticular fibers and fibroblasts
• Forms stroma (framework) for organs
• Locations: spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow

Question 9

Dense Regular CT

Answer 9

• Tightly packed parallel collagen fibers
  
  • Main cell: Fibroblast
  • Poorly vascularized
• Locations: Tendons, ligaments, fascia sheets

Question 10

Dense Irregular CT

Answer 10

• Interwoven bundles of collagen fibers
• Locations:
  - Dermis of skin
  
  • Fibrous coverings of organs (kidney,
    testes, liver, spleen)
    -joint capsules

Question 11

Specialized CT

Answer 11

Cartilage, bone, blood

Question 12

1. Cartilage (Gristle): 3 types hyaline, elastic, fibrocartilage

Answer 12

• More rigid than dense CT but more flexible
  than bone
• Avascular (no blood vessels) and no nerves
• Cells: Chondrocytes in lacunae
• Matrix: Ground substance, collagen, elastic
  fibers
• Functions: Structural support, model for
  bone formation
• Locations: Joints, ear, nose

Question 13

Hyaline Cartilage (Most common, most rigid)

Answer 13

• Features: Closely packed collagen fibers,
  perichondrium covering
• Locations:
  
  • Tracheal rings
  • Embryonic skeleton
  • Articular cartilage
  • Growth plates of long bones
  • Sternum-to-rib connections

Question 14

Elastic Cartilage (Flexible, withstands bending)

Answer 14

• Features: Dense, branching elastic fibers
• Locations:
  
  • Epiglottis of larynx
  • External ears of animals

Question 15

Fibrocartilage (Designed for compression)

Answer 15

• Features: Thick collagen bundles, merged
  with hyaline cartilage & dense CT
• Locations:
  
  • Intervertebral discs
  • Pelvic bone joints
  • Knee joint

Question 16

2. Bone

Answer 16

• Hardest, most rigid CT
• Matrix:
  
  • Organic: Collagen fibers
  • Inorganic: Calcium salts
• Highly vascularized

Question 17

3. Blood

Answer 17

• Matrix:
  
  • Ground substance: Plasma + Fibrous
    component: Proteins
• Cells:
  
  • Erythrocytes (RBCs) – Oxygen transport
  • Leukocytes (WBCs) – Immune defense
  • Thrombocytes (Platelets) – Blood
    clotting