CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Connective
Tissue
Proper
Fluid/liquid
Connective
Tissue
Supporting
Connective
Tissue
Loose
Connective
Tissue
Dense
Connective
Tissue
Adipose
CT
Reticular
CT
Areolar
CT
Dense
irregular
CT
Elastic
CT
Dense
regular
CT
Blood
Lymph
Bone
(Osseous)
Tissue
Cartilage
Functions
Structure
- abundant and widely distributed
- two basic elements: extracellular matrix and specialised cells (immature cells (-blast) and mature cells (-cyte))
- cells rarely touch
- extracellular matrix secreted by cells
- consistency varies
- good nerve and blood supply (except cartilage and tendons)
Specialised
cells
Adipocytes
Leukocytes
(WBC)
Fibroblasts #
- secrete protein fibres (form chains outside cell) and matrix
- fat cells - store energy in form of fat
Macrophages - develop from monocytes and engulf bacteria and debris by phagocytosis
Plasma cells - develop from B lymphocytes and produce antibodies that fight against foreign substances
Mast cells - produce histamine that dilate small blood vessels
Extracellular
matrix
Ground
substance
Fibres
Collagen fibres
S - composed of collagen protein
F - tough and resistant to stretching. Allow some flexibility
L - bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments
Elastic fibres
S - composed of elastin protein surrounded by fibrillin glycoprotein
F - provide strength and stretching capacity
L - skin, blood vessels lungs
- proteins secreted by fibroblast cells
Reticular fibres
S - composed of collagen protein and a specific glycoprotein
F - support wall of blood vessels, spleen, lymph nodes, nerve fibres, supporting network around fat cells, skeletal and smooth muscle fibres
loosely woven fibres throughout tissues
Cells - fibroblasts, plasma, macrophages, mast cells, WBC
Fibres - collagen, elastic, reticular
Ground substance - gelatinous ground substance
more numerous, thicker and dense fibres
considerably fewer cells than loose connective tissue
L - subcutaneous layer of integument
F - support and strength
- proteoglycans (proteins carrying large unbranched highly charged polysaccharide side chains) and glycoproteins
- fluid, gelatinous or solid
- makes sure nutrients are exchanged between cells and outside
- equivalent of cytosol outside cells
Cells - fibroblasts, adipocytes, macrophages, mast cells
Fibres - collagen, elastic, reticular
Ground substance - tissue fluid
L - wherever areolar CT is located - inseparable
F - support, reduce heat loss, energy reserve, protection, brown fat in newborns
Cells - fibroblasts (reticular)
Fibres - reticular. Form fine delicate network
L - stroma of organs, bind together cells of smooth muscle
F - bind cells together
Cells - fibroblasts
Fibres - collagen in parallel bundles with fibroblasts between
L - tendons (connect muscle to bone), ligaments (bind bone to bone)
F - support and strength, binds together
Cells - fibroblasts (scattered sparsely)
Fibres - collagen irregularly arranged
L - found where tension exerted in any direction
- heart valves, perichondrium, tissue surrounding cartilage, periosteum, white of eyeball
F - strength
Cells - fibroblasts
Fibres - elastic (branching). Can stretch and return to original shape
L - lung tissue, vocal cords, ligament between vertebrae, aorta
S - elasticity
extracellular matrix containing mineral salts and collagenous fibres and osteocyte cells
Spongy bone
- sponge-like with spaces and trabeculae (struts of bond surrounded by red bone marrow)
Compact bone
- solid, dense bone
F - protects, provide for movement, stores minerals, site of blood cell formation
S
- dense network of collagen and elastic fibres embedded in chondroitin sulfage
- strength from collagen fibres
- resilience due to chondroitin sulfate
- chondrocytes occur with spaces called lacunae in the extracellular matrix. Secrete ground substance extracellular matrix components
- surrounded by dense irregular tissue membrane - perichondrium #
avascular (except in perichondrium)
Hyaline
cartilage
S
- fine collagen fibres embedded in gel-type matrix
- avascular and no nerves = slow repair
F
- flexibility and support at joints, reduces friction and absorbs shock
L
- most abundant (ends of bones), weakest
- joints, respiratory tract
- immature skeleton
Fibrocartilage
S
- bundles of collagen fibres in ground substance
- lacks perichondrium (no protective irregular connective tissue)
F
- support, strength, binding together
L
- strongest of the 3 types
- interverterbral discs, patella
Elastic
cartilage #
S
- threadlike network of elastic fibres
- chondrocytes secrete elastin and fibrillin
- perichondrium present
F
- strength, elasticity, maintain shape of organs (even after deformation)
L
- ear, nose, vocal cartilages
S
- liquid matrix - plasma
- formed elements - RBC, leukocytes, platelets
F
- supply of O2, immunity
S
- extracellular fluid flowing in lymph vessels
- similar composition to plasma (less protein)
F
- immunity, movement of molecules