Specialised Connective Tissue Flashcards
What does cartilage not have?
Any blood or nerves
What is the most common type of cartilage?
Hyaline
Describe:
- The features of hyaline
- Where it is found and why
- The matrix consists mainly of
hydrated gel with some collagen fibres but few elastic fibres. - Gives it rigidity - forms specialised
parts of the skeleton where bone is not required (thus saving on weight) - Respiratory tract, nasal septum
What are the three types of cartilage?
Hyaline, fibrocartilage and elastic
How does connective tissue differ from cartilage?
The matrix-producing cells, the chondrocytes, found
in all types of cartilage, are themselves embedded in the semi-solid gel and thus occupy lacunae.
Describe the cells in cartilage.
Chondroblasts - immature cells with the potential for secreting matrix.
Chondrocytes - the mature cells that are embedded in the matrix that they have secreted.
Where are chondroblasts found?
They lie on the surface
of the cartilage within a fibrous layer of connective tissue, the perichondrium.
What are the features of fibrocartilage and where is it found and why?
- Contains a high proportion of collagen fibres
- Gives it a high degree of tensile strength so found in intervertebral discs.
What are the features of elastic cartilage and where is it found and why?
- Much more flexible than hyaline cartilage, due to a
much higher content of elastic fibres - Found in parts of the skeleton where flexibility is an
advantage - Pinna (outer part) of the ear
Give examples of liquid CT.
Blood and lymph
What are the four different classifications of bones?
Long, short, flat or irregular.
What are the three different parts of a long bone?
Shaft - diaphysis
Ends - epiphysis
In a growing bone, how are the diaphysis and epiphysis joined?
Plate of cartilage called the epiphyseal growth plate.
What is the centre of a long bone called?
Medullary cavity
What two types of bone surround the medullary cavity?
Compact bone and spongy bone
Where is compact bone found?
On the outside
What are the spaces in spongy bone filled with?
Bone marrow
What is the medullary cavity filled with?
Bone marrow
Outline the structure of the epiphysis.
Filled with spongy bone surrounded by a thin layer of compact bone.
What are the two types of bone marrow?
Yellow or red
Describe red and yellow bone marrow and where they’re found.
Red - synthesis of blood cells (hematopoiesis) - epiphysis
Yellow - fat so has adipocytes - diaphysis
What is special about bone ECM?
It is calcified.
What are the bone cells and their relationship?
Osteoprogenitor cells (stem cells) –> differentiate into osteoblasts when required –>
some cells get trapped in the matrix and differentiate into mature bone cells called osteocytes. Also have osteoclasts.
What are osteoblasts?
Active cells that synthesise the matrix components.
What are the fate of osteoblasts?
Apoptosis, osteocytes or bone lining cells.
What are osteoclasts?
- Multi-nucleated giant cells
- Bone digesting cells (responsible for bone resorption)
What is the role of osteocytes?
Maintain bone matrix.
What is compact bone covered with?
Uncalcified dense connective tissue called the periosteum.
What is the periosteum needed for?
- Bone growth and repair
- Outer limiting layer
- Nourishment to the bone
- Forms a site of attachment for tendons of muscles
How is bone arranged?
- Arranged in regular layers
- Called mature lamellar bone
- Collagen fibres arranged in layers and run parallel to eachother
- Layers arranged in concentric circles around a central canal
What is found in the central canal of lamellar bone?
Vessels, parties, veins and nerves.
What is the central canal called?
Haversian canal
What is the central canal surrounded by?
Concentric layers of calcified bone matrix - lamellae.
What is the lamellae + canal called?
Osteon or Haversian system
What is between osteons?
Interstitial lamellae - remains of remodelled osteons.
Draw an osteon.
Look at notes
