Session 6 - Supporting Tissues Flashcards
When is elastin made?
Elastin is only made during foetal development. It is never replaced
Name the main cells found in connective tissues and the main products
Cells: - Fibroblasts - Chondrocytes - Osteocytes/blasts/clasts - Stem cells/Progenitor cells/ Bone marrow/ blood/ adipocytes Products: - Fibres - Ground substance - Wax and gel like materials
What are the main functions of connective tissue?
1) Binding
2) Protecting
3) Insulating
4) Storing fuel reserves
5) Transporting substances
6) Separation of tissues
What is connective tissue proper and it’s subgroups?
Loose connective tissue (Areolar) - such as the lamina propria
Dense Connective tissue:
- Irregular
- Regular
- Fascia - think sheaths separate muscles
- Aponeurosis - connect muscle to muscle, tendon to tendon, ligament to tendon
Describe the structure of loose connective tissue
- Cells: fibroblasts, macrophages, other white blood cells, mast cells and adipocytes
- Mostly collagen and elastin
- Ground substance has proteoglycans and hyaluronic avid
What are the functions of loose connective tissue?
- Holds vessels that supply fluids
- Permits cell migration
- Involved in inflammation pathways
- Acts as packaging around organs
- generally hold everything in place
- Cushions and stabilises organs
Where can loose connective tissue be found?
Found under epithelial cell layers (lamina propria), around glands, capillaries, nerves and sinusoids
What are myofibroblasts?
Modified fibroblasts that contain actin and myosin. They are responsible for wound contractionq
What is the role of macrophages in loose connective tissue?
- They are derived from blood monocytes and are phagocytic cells. They move into loose connective tissue when there is local inflamation
- They are classed as “Professional antigen presenting” cells
Describe a mast cell and its properties
Look like basophils but are NOT derived from them and are strongly stained by haematoxylin.
Granular cell that contains:
- Histamine - increases blood vessel permeability
- Heparin - Anticoagulant (stops sealing of blood vessel)
- Cytokines - Attract eosinophils and neutophils
Where are mast cells not found and why?
They are not found in the CNS to avoid the damaging effects of an oedema
What is the difference between brown and white adipose tissue?
White adipocytes - Unilocular with nucleus and cytoplasm squeezed to sides
- Act as padding, shock absorber and insulation
Brown adipocytes - Multilocular with multiple lipid droplets. Nucleus and cytoplasm in center
- Insulation and fuel reserve (not really for shock absorption)
- Heat generation (Oxidative Phosphorylation uncoupling)
What are the 4 main types of collagen and describe their properties
Type 1 - Most common. Fibrils aggregate into fibres and fibre bundles (tendons)
Type 2 - Fibrils do not for fibres (present in hyaline and elastic cartilage)
Type 3 - Fibrils form fibres around muscle and nerve cells and within lymphatic tissues. It is called Reticulin
Type 4 - Unique to the basement membrane
How are fibrillin and elastin linked?
Microfibrils (fibrillin) are important scaffolding components of elastin fibres
What constitutes the extracellular matrix?
A complex extracellular structural network that consists of ground substance and fibres
What is ground substance
A viscous clear substance with a slippery feel. It is composed of proteoglycans such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and hyaluronic acid