Week 3

Question 1

Name the 3 special characteristics of connective tissue

Answer 1

Common embryological origin (mesenchyme)
Abundant intercellular matrix with few cells
Wide range of vascularity

Question 2

Components of connective tissu

Answer 2

Cells
Ground Substance
Fibers

Question 3

Describe “blast” cells

Answer 3

immature, actively mitotic, and secrete matrix

Question 4

Describe “cyte” cells

Answer 4

mature, completely surrounded by matrix and maintain health of matrix

Question 5

What makes up the matrix?

Answer 5

Matrix = Ground substance + fibers

Question 6

What are the 3 types of fibers found in connective tissue and what do they look like?

Answer 6

Collagen - white, thick, tough, strong; have high tensile strength (stain pink)
Elastic - yellow, thin, elastic; can stretch and recoil (stain dark, looks like dark hair or cracks)
Reticular – appear branched and jagged; supportive network for other cells (stain very dark, looks like tree branches)

Question 7

What are the four subtypes of connective tissue

Answer 7

Connective Tissue Proper
Cartilage
Osseous connective tissue (bone)
Vascular connective tissue (blood)

Question 8

What specific kinds of tissue are considered to be connective tissue proper?

Answer 8

Areolar Connective Tissue
Adipose Connective Tissue
Reticular Connective Tissue
Dense Regular Connective Tissue
Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Question 9

What are Mesenchymal cells?

Answer 9

embryonic connective tissue cells, undifferentiated, can specialize to become other CT cell types

Question 10

What cells are found in connective tissue proper and their roles

Answer 10

Fibroblasts – secrete matrix (fibers + ground substance) to make CT Proper
Mast cells – produce histamine and heparin
Mesenchymal cells – undifferentiated, can specialize to become other CT cell types
Macrophages – phagocytic

Question 11

Areolar Connective Tissue

Answer 11

Cells: fibroblasts; macrophages, mast cells, some white blood cells
Fibers: loose fiber arrangement; all three fiber types with collagen and elastic prominent
Locations: between and within organ and gland walls, around vessels, deep to epithelium
Functions: wraps and cushions organs, holds and conveys tissue fluid, role in inflammation

Question 12

Adipose Connective Tissue

Answer 12

Cells: adipocytes contain a fat storage vacuole filled with triglycerides
Fibers: loose fiber arrangement; sparse matrix with little to no visible fibers
Locations: under skin (hypodermis); around eyeball, kidneys, and heart; within abdomen and breasts
Functions: energy storage, cushion, thermal insulation

Question 13

Reticular Connective Tissue

Answer 13

Cells: reticular cells (special fibroblasts)
Fibers: loose fiber arrangement; contains reticular fibers
Locations: internal framework of lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow
Function: provides soft internal skeleton supporting other cell types

Question 14

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Answer 14

Cells: fibroblasts
Fibers: dense fiber arrangement; collagen fibers running parallel to each other
Locations: tendons (connect muscle to bones), ligament (connect bones to bones), aponeuroses (sheet-like tendons)
Function: withstand tension in a single plane/direction

Question 15

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Answer 15

Cells: fibroblasts
Fibers: dense fiber arrangement; collagen fibers are irregularly arranged
Locations: dermis, joint capsules, organ capsules, perichondrium, periosteum
Function: withstand tension in several planes/directions

Question 16

What cells are found in Cartilage connective tissue?

Answer 16

Chondroblasts

Chondrocytes

Question 17

What are the characteristics of cartilage connective tissue

Answer 17

Matrix is semisolid
Possesses lacunae, which are small chambers where chondrocytes are housed
Boundary is called the perichondrium
Avascular, so slow to heal

Question 18

Hyaline Cartilage

Answer 18

Contains collagenous fibers in the amorphous matrix
Lacunae tend to appear as singles, doubles, or triples
Locations: trachea, bronchi, larynx, attaches to the ends of ribs, tip of nose, articulating surfaces of bones, precursor to bone
Functions: support and reinforcement, resilience and cushioning, resistance of compressive stress

Question 19

Elastic Cartilage

Answer 19

Elastic fibers visible
Narrow band of tissue with numerous evenly distributed lacunae; very little matrix
Locations: external ear, epiglottis, pharyngotympanic tube
Function: flexible maintenance of shape

Question 20

Fibrocartilage

Answer 20

No perichondrium
Contains a lot of collagenous fibers in the matrix
Locations: pubic symphysis, intervertebral discs, menisci of knee
Function: possesses high tensile strength with the ability to absorb compressive shock

Question 21

What are the cells found in Osseous Tissue?

Answer 21

Osteoblasts

Osteocytes

Question 22

Compact bone

Answer 22

Contains collagenous fibers in solid mineralized matrix

Question 23

Lamellae

Answer 23

concentric rings of matrix

Question 24

Lacunae

Answer 24

(little chambers) houses osteocytes

Question 25

Canaliculi

Answer 25

small canals that connect lacunae

Question 26

Spongy bone

Answer 26

Contains collagenous fibers in in solid mineralized matrix
Not arranged in osteons; have trabeculae instead that contain spaces for bone marrow
Possesses lacunae where osteocytes are housed

Question 27

Facts about vascular connective tissue

Answer 27

Liquid portion of blood matrix is called plasma

Fibers are only visible during clot formation

Question 28

What cells are found in vascular connective tissue

Answer 28

Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
   -Anucleated and biconcave
   -Carry respiratory gasses (O2 and CO2)
Leukocytes (white blood cells)
   -Nucleated
   -Fight microorganisms
Thrombocytes (platelets)
   -Cell fragments – appear as tiny purple dots
   -Function in clotting