Tissues - Connective Flashcards
Most abundant type of tissues
Connective tissues
Function of connective tissues
Protect, support, and bind together the other tissues of the body
Characteristics of connective tissues
Variation in blood supply
Extracellular matrix
Variation in blood supply
Good blood supply
- provide nutrients
- help in healing
Tendons and ligaments have poor blood supply
Cartilage is avascular
(Injuries to these structures heal slowly)
Tendons
Muscle to bone
Ligament
Bone to bone
Extracellular matrix (ECM)
A connective tissue is made of different types of living cells plus nonliving extracellular matrix.
Matrix is made up of
Fibre
Ground substances
Ground substances consist of
Water
Cell adhesion protein (allow cells to attach to the matrix fibres embedded in the ground substance)
Large charged polysaccharide molecule (trap water, causing the matrix to vary in consistency from fluid to gel-like to firm)
Matrix fibers
Collagen - possess a high tensile strength
Elastic - yellow and stretch and recoil
Reticular - fine collagen fibers that make up skeleton of soft organ, such as the spleen.
Most abundant fibre in the body
Collagen fibre
Fibroblast means
Making fibre
Fibre is built up from
Monomers
Funtion of the fibres
Due to these fibers, connective tissue is able to form a soft packing tissue around other organs, to carry weight, and withstand stretching and abrasions that other tissues cannot
Types of connective tissues
