Topic 7: Tissue Level of Organization - Connective Tissue

Question 1

What is connective tissue? (2)

Answer 1

• mainly supports and connects tissues
• the cells are far apart, separated by extracellular matrix

Question 2

What gives CT subtypes’ identifying characteristics?

Answer 2

• extracellular material

Question 3

Does CT have blood vessels?

Answer 3

• it has variable vascularity

Question 4

Are there cell junctions in CT?

Answer 4

no, hence cells in CT are not connected

Question 5

What do the CT cell types’ name end in? (3)

Answer 5

• blast
• cyte
• clast

Question 6

If a CT cell ends in -BLAST, what is its function?

Answer 6

• creates the matrix
  ex. osteoblast, chondroblast, fibroblast

Question 7

If a CT cell ends in -CYTE, what is its function?

Answer 7

• maintain the matric
  ex. osteocytes, chondrocytes, fibrocytes
  ex. osteocytes are bone cells that maintain matric

Question 8

If a CT cell ends in -CLAST, what is its function?

Answer 8

• break down matrix
  ex. osteoclast

Question 9

What is the matrix of CT composed of? (3)

Answer 9

1. fibers (proteins)
2. Ground Substance
3. Water (always water in CT)

Question 10

What are the 3 types of fibers in the matrix, and what are their functions?

Answer 10

1. collagen fibers for strength
2. Elastic fibers that contain elastin to allow for stretching and recoiling
3. reticular fibers that form networks, like the CT part of basement membrane

Question 11

What is the ground substance portion of the matrix?

Answer 11

• unstructured (protein) material surrounding extracellular fibres and cells

Question 12

What is the ground substance composed of? Give 2 examples

Answer 12

• water and large organic molecules
  ex. hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate

Question 13

How is Ct mainly classified?

Answer 13

by matrix composition

Question 14

What are the 4 classifications of connective tissue?

Answer 14

1) CT proper
2) Cartilage
3) Bone
4) blood

Question 15

What are the two types of CT Proper?

Answer 15

• loose CT
• Dense CT

Question 16

What type of cells are CT Proper? (2)

Answer 16

• fibroblasts/fibrocytes (create the matrix)
• except adipose tissue (adipocytes)

Question 17

What are the two types of loose CT?

Answer 17

• areolar CT
• Adipose CT

Question 18

What is areolar CT? (2)

Answer 18

• loosely arranged collagen and elastic fibres
• surrounded by ground substance (hylauronic acid)

Question 19

Is areolar CT vascular? Why or why not?

Answer 19

• highly vascular
• to be able to feed nutrients to the lamina propria
  ex. is lamina propria, the CT underlying epidermal tissue

Question 20

What is adipose CT? (4)

Answer 20

• very little matrix
• cells are large (adipocytes)
• stores triglycerides –> tissues look like “chicken wire”
• highly vascular

Question 21

Why is adipose CT highly vascular?

Answer 21

• storing fats so cardiovascular system would move these fats throughout the body to be used as energy

Question 22

What are the characteristics of dense CT? (3)

Answer 22

• many fibres (aka fibrous CT)
• little ground substance
• poorly vascular

Question 23

What are the two types of dense CT?

Answer 23

1) dense regular CT
2) dense irregular CT

Question 24

What is dense regular CT? (2)

Answer 24

• collagen fibres running in the same direction
• ex. tendons, ligaments

Question 25

What is dense irregular CT? (2)

Answer 25

• collagen fibres arranged irregularly
• ex. dermis of the skin

Question 26

What are the cells that make up cartilage?

Answer 26

• chondrocytes, the cells located in lacunae, aka cavities in the matrix
• chondroblasts

Question 27

What is the matrix of cartilage made up of?

Answer 27

fibres = collagen and elastin (proteins)
ground substance = condroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid

Question 28

Is Cartilage vascular or avascular? What does this mean in terms of healing?

Answer 28

• avascular
  -heals slowly
  ex. hyaline cartilage of trachea, ribs, end of long bones

Question 29

What are the cells that make up bone?

Answer 29

osteocytes (in lacunae)
- osteoblasts
- osteoclasts

Question 30

What does the matrix of cartilage cells contain?

Answer 30

fibres = collagen
ground substance = hydroxyapatite (inorganic Ca++ and phosphate salts) and organic compounds ex. proteoglycans

Question 31

Are bones vascular?

Answer 31

• highly vascular
• ex. bone marrow in bones makes RBC

Question 32

What are the cells that make up blood?

Answer 32

RBC and WBC

Question 33

What does the matrix of blood cells contain? (2)

Answer 33

• matrix fluid = plasma
• plasma contains fibre proteins, ground substance, and water