Week 3 content: connective tissue

Question 1

Common features of connective tissue (CT)

Answer 1

• never exposed to external environment
• contains extracellular matrix (protein fibers and ground substance) and cells

Question 2

Function of connective tissue (5)

Answer 2

• structural framework
• transport of materials
• protection
• surrounds, supports and interconnects other tissue
• Reserve for energy (lipids)
• defense mechanism

Question 3

What are the components of CT

Answer 3

• fibroblast (cells that contribute to the formation of CT, secretes protein subunits- collagen and proteoglycans)
• adipocytes (fat cells)
• immune cells (recognise and dispose of foreign material)

Question 4

types of tissue fibers

Answer 4

• collagen: unbranched bundles of type I collagen, associated with proteoglycans to give tensile strength
• reticular fibers: network of type III collagen, for structural support
• elastic: stretchable proteins and elastin allow stretch and recoil

Question 5

classifications of CT

Answer 5

mature
–>
- loose (arolar, adipose, reticular)
- dense (regular, irregular, elastic)
- cartilage (hyaline, elastic and fibro)
- bone
- liquid (blood and lymph)