Tissue organisation - cellular basis Flashcards

1
Q

What are 3 forms of CT and how do they vary?

A

soft
semi-hard (cartilage)
hard (bone)
vary in ECM composition (determined by syn and secretion of components of matrix by supporting cells)

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2
Q

What is soft CT?

A

Consists of cells embedded in ECM – not together in sheets

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3
Q

What do cells of soft CT do?

A

synthesise and secrete components of ECM

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4
Q

Is composition of ECM always the same?

A

variable composition

- depends upon function of ECM

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5
Q

What does epithelium do?

A

Lines lumen

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6
Q

What is fibroblast?

A

Cell that syn + secrete proteins and proteoglycans - push them out into env where they get stabilised

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7
Q

List what is found in soft CT? (10)

A
Basal lamina
Collagen fibre
Capillary
Mast cell
Fibroblast
Macrophage
Hyaluronan
Proteoglycans
Glycoproteins
Elastic fibre
Adipose cells
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8
Q

How does soft CT function as space filler?

A

space filler between organs & provides mechanical support e.g. holding intestines in pos

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9
Q

What is function of soft CT in terms of organs?

A

attachment of organs to backwall of body/ where u can anchor organ &; protection of organ from impact

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10
Q

What is function of soft CT in terms of nutrients?

A

highway for nutrients in blood vessels – dissolved nutrients in plasma

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11
Q

What is function of soft CT in terms of storage?

A

fat (adipose cells) – build up reserve of these against future starvation & calcium for days when there’s not much calcium – need for nerve growth and growth conduction, muscle contraction – if low on calcium – top up level to what’s phys normal

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12
Q

What is function of soft CT in terms of immunological defence?

A

site of immunological defence – macrophages – where bacteria and parasites are so that’s where they need to be killed

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13
Q

What are 5 types of soft CT?

A
Mesenchyme
Loose (areolar)
Dense
Reticular
Adipose
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14
Q

What is mesenchyme?

A

specialised early connective tissue in embryo – setting down future organs for body

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15
Q

Where is loose (areolar) CT found?

A

mesentery, under dermis (hypodermis). v. flexible and open sponge-like – in places where lots of movement in parts of body are required so u don’t rip skin

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16
Q

Where is dense CT found?

A

Tendon at end of muscles, dermis – above hypodermis and underneath epidermis – gives tension and solidity to skin, capsules – organs e.g. kidney – CT surrounds it to hold it in place

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17
Q

Where is reticular CT found?

A

In bone marrow – stem cells and progeny have to held in place, lymph nodes – sim thing in lymph nodes

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18
Q

Where is adipose CT found?

A

Fat cell

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19
Q

How do types of soft CT vary?

A

in collagen & proteoglycan form

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20
Q

What does the ECM consist of?

A

Proteins – glycoproteins
Glycosaminoglycans – GAGs = sugars
Together these form large hydrated gel

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21
Q

What is role of collagen in ECM?

A

tensile strength of matrix

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22
Q

What is role of elastin in ECM?

A

elasticity of matrix

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23
Q

What is role of adhesive protein in ECM?

A

adhesion proteins for fibroblasts & other cells – proteins cells will attach to e.g. stem cells ion bone marrow, don’t float in space but have to attach to matrix to proliferate and diff properly

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24
Q

Which is most abundant protein in soft CT?

A

Collagen

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25
Q

What is structure of collagen?

A
Rod-shaped triple helix of polypeptides –  up to 420 nm long.
Not extensible – can’t pull it/no elasticity.
Forms fibrils (group = fibres) of some type in ECM
26
Q

What is function of collagen in soft CT?

A

Fibres and fibrils give strength to diff types of connective tissue
tensile strength of matrix tendons, dense CT (highest conc), ligaments

27
Q

How many collagen proteins do humans have?

A

20

Size & shape of collagens vary according to function

28
Q

How many types of fibrillar collagen are there?

A

4

29
Q

What is Type I fibrillar collagen and where is it found?

A
tough
In skin (dermis), bone, tendons – have to hold muscles in place during contraction/extension, dentine in teeth
30
Q

What is Type II fibrillar collagen and where is it found?

A

thinner fibres

cartilage

31
Q

What is Type III fibrillar collagen and where is it found?

A

Sheet collagens

blood vessels, skin (hypodermis which is more flexible)

32
Q

What is Type IV fibrillar collagen and where is it found?

A

basement membrane

33
Q

Why is cytoplasm in collagen III in dermis full of RER?

A

lots of syn and secretion of protein for export of collagen and proteoglycans

34
Q

Where are elastic fibres found?

A

Prominent in skin, blood vessels & lung as lung vol has to increase as you breathe in and relax as you exhale – prevents ripping

35
Q

What is structure of elastic fibres?

A

extensible (like rubber)

recoils passively after tissue is stretched.

36
Q

What is function of elastic fibres?

A

the energy stored in elastic fibres pushes blood through circulation – peripheral blood vessels – relaxation helps pump blood through circulation

37
Q

What happens to elastic fibres in the wall of aorta?

A

Fibrils – expand when blood pumped out of ventricle and the relax as systole contractions of ventricle pass by

38
Q

What is structure of elastic fibres?

A

A composite material: a network of

fibrillin (protein) microfibrils embedded in a core of cross-linked elastin. Details unclear

39
Q

What syn elastic fibres and what does this mean?

A

embryonic and juvenile fibroblasts
Adults make do with this – have all elastin u will ever have for rest of ur life; fibres are very
resilient, can withstand > 2 billion cycles of stretch-recoil before losing elasticity. Compare aged skin with juvenile, where UV irradiation damage is evident. Loss of elasticity and elastic fibre function with age

40
Q

What is an adhesive protein?

A

ECM protein to which cells stick): cross-link cells of CT to collagen, bind to transmembrane receptors called integrins.
Anchor cell down to ECM so cell doesn’t float about

41
Q

What is fibronectin?

A

abundant in all CT – fibroblast attached to it

42
Q

What is tenascin?

A

produced at wounds, function obscure but helps fibroblasts migrate in skin to seal up cut and stop it being made again

43
Q

What is laminin?

A

in basal laminae, binds epithelia to BM – along with collagen type IV

44
Q

What is basement mem?

A

Separates CT from the epithelial layer

A physical barrier to cells, maintains the integrity of tissues

45
Q

How are GAGs syn?

A

as proteoglycans – all have protein component except hyaluron

46
Q

What are GAGs?

A

glycosaminoglycans, formerly known as mucopolysaccharides
100s of GAGs
Few common features, but do share common properties

47
Q

What are GAGs arrangement?

A

70-200 sugars long, thin flexible sugar chains floating in water
high density of negative charge at phys pH

48
Q

How do GAGs react with water?

A

Sugar chains are too stiff to fold into compact structures.
Also strongly hydrophilic
Tend to adopt highly extended shapes that occupy a huge volume
Water sucked into the matrix of GAGs by osmotically active ion cloud – dilute density of vol.
Cations e.g. Ca2+, K+ abundant in plasma + liquid phases attracted to –ve charge – get watery gel

49
Q

How can ECM withstand compressional forces?

A

Water creates swelling pressure(turgor) that enables the ECM. Compare with collagen that resists stretch forces - opp.

50
Q

What is structure of GAGs?

A

GAGs in CT constitute <10% of weight of the protein, but fill most of the volume as a porous hydrated gel.

51
Q

Where would u find lots of GAGs and why?

A

Synovial joint
act as shock absorbers – walk, no pain as bones bang against each other
Proteoglycan vol of water acts as shock absorber

52
Q

What are 2 classes of CT cells?

A

indigenous & immigrants

53
Q

What are indigenous cells?

A

synthesis of ECM, lipid storage

54
Q

What are immigrant cells?

A

immune system cells - Largely leukocytes (WBCs)

55
Q

What are types of immigrant cells?

A
neutrophils
monocytes/macrophages
dendritic cells 
eosinophils
basophils
lymphocytes
56
Q

What types of immigrant cells are phagocytic?

A

neutrophils

monocytes/macrophages

57
Q

What are dendritic cells?

A

immune surveillance in tissues – wait for bacteria and grabs it and starts immune response

58
Q

What are eosinophils?

A

function in parasitic infection

59
Q

What are basophils?

A

obscure function

60
Q

What are lymphocytes?

A

involved in antibody production, cell killing