Week 6- Intro to Rheumatology Flashcards
What type of cells do connective tissue come from?
Mesenchyme
What does the ECM of connective tissue comprise of?
Ground substance (macromolecules and multi adhesive glycoproteins) Fibres (reticular, elastic, collagen)
What are the 3 components of connective tissue?
Cells
Fibres
Ground substance
What are some characteristics of connective tissue?
Doesnt occur on free surfaces Has a nerve supply (except cartilage) Highly vascular (except cartilage and tendons)
What is the ground substance in connective tissue?
Between cells and fibers, supports cells, binds them together
What are the 3 types of fibers in connective tissue and their characteristics
Collagen- strong, resistant, made of collagen
Elastic fibers- smaller in diameter, made of elastin
Reticular fibers- made of collagen and have a glycoprotein coating, support blood vessel walls
What are fibroblasts?
Large flat cells, migrate through tissue secreting the fibers and ground substance
What are macrophages?
Perform phagocytosis, develop from WBCs
What are mast cells?
Found alongside blood vessels that supply connective tissue and produce histamine which dilates blood vessels
Whats the main function of fibers in connective tissue?
Provide strength and support to connective tissue
What are the 4 main types of connective tissue?
Proper (loose and dense, w dense having more collagen)
Cartilage (hyaline, elastic, fibrocartilage)
Bone tissue (spongy and compact)
Blood (complex)
What are the 3 types of cartilage
Hyaline, fribrocartilage, elastic
What are the 2 types of proper connective tissue?
Loose
Dense
What are the 3 types of loose connective tissue proper?
Areolar
Adipose
Reticular
What are the 3 types of dense connective tissue proper?
Regular, irregular and elastic
What is the function of connective tissue proper?
Binding tissue, resists mechanical stress
What is special about cartilage?
It is avascular and has no nerve supply
What are the 2 cell types in cartilage and when are they present?
Chondroblasts (when cartilage is growing)
Chondrocytes
What is the function of cartilage?
Strengthen and support connective tissue, resist compression and cushion/support body structures
What is the most common type of cartilage?
Hyaline
Describe hyaline cartilage
Weakest of the 3 types, found at end of long bones to cushion joint and at epiphyseal plates
Describe fibrocartilage
Strongest of the 3 types, found in intervertebral discs, chondrocytes scattered among visible bundles of collagen fibers
Describe elastic cartilage
Chondrocytes located in a threadlike network of elastic fibers, provides strength, elasticity and maintains shapes of structures eg ear
What are the 2 types of bone tissue
Compact
Spongy
What does spongy bone tissue have that compact bone tissue doesnt have?
Trabeculae- columns of bone with spaces filled with red bone marrow
What is special about the matrix of blood?
It is liquid (plasma)
What is special about blood compared to other types of connective tissue?
It has no fibers
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Autoimmune disorder affecting joints where they are warm, swollen and painful, w symptoms being worse after rest, 3 things to remember:
Affects small joints
Affects multiple joints
Is symmetrical
What is systemic lupus erythematosus?
Autoimmune disorder affecting multiple organ systems and joints
What is vasculitis?
A group of disorders that destroy blood vessels via inflammation
What are the 2 types of arthritis?
Rheumatoid and osteo
What happens to joints in rheumatoid arthritis?
Synovial membrane becomes swollen and inflamed
Bone is eroded
Cartilage wears away
What factor causes changes in cells in rheumatoid arthritis?
Interleukin 17
What are some differences between rheumatoid and osteoarthritis?
Rheumatoid: inflammatory, autoantibodies, small joints affected
Osteoarthritis: degenerative, no antibodies, affects large weight bearing joints
What joints in the finger are affected in RA?
PIP joints
What changes are seen in the hands in RA?
Ulnar deviation
Swan necking
What are some extraarticular (not to do w joints) manifestions of RA?
Nodules at the elbows/hands
Fibrosis of the lungs
What changes are seen on x rays in RA?
Swelling of soft tissue
Loss of joint space
Erosions
Subluxation (deformity/dislocation of joints)
What exercise is recommended for patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
ROM, conditioning and strengthening
What medicines are prescribed for RA?
Analgesics
Anti inflammatorys
Immunosupressive
Cytotoxic
What are DMARs? Give examples of the main ones
Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (leflunomide, methotrexane, hydroxycholoroquine, sulfasanaside)
They are immunosupressants
How do biological therapies work?
By working on specific biological targets
Give an example of a biological therapy for RA
Etanercept
What are some symptoms of SLE?
Alopecia Arthralgia Oral ulcers Photosensitivity Malar rash
What are symptoms of scleroderma?
Reflux
Raynaud’s digital ulcerations
