Connective Tissue Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the most abundant and widely distributed of primary tissues?

Nervous tissue

Connective tissue (correct)

Epithelial tissue

Muscle tissue

Skin consists of primarily what kind of tissue?

Connective tissue

What are the four main classes of connective tissue?

Connective tissue proper, cartilage, bone tissue, and blood.

What are the four main functions of connective tissue?

Binding and support, protection, insulation, and transportation of substances within the body. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main substances of connective tissue?

Ground substance, fibers, and cells. Signup and view all the answers

What makes up the extracellular matrix?

Ground substance and fibers. Signup and view all the answers

What is ground substance composed of?

Interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans. Signup and view all the answers

What are types of cell adhesion proteins?

Fibronectin, laminin, and others. Signup and view all the answers

What is chondroitin sulfate?

An important structural component of cartilage. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of ground substance?

It acts as a sieve between blood capillaries and cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of fibers in connective tissue?

To provide support. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of fibers in connective tissue?

Collagenous, elastic, and reticular fibers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the matrix in connective tissue?

Extracellular matrix material that surrounds connective tissue, consisting of protein fibers and ground substance. Signup and view all the answers

What are reticular fibers?

Short, fine, collagenous fibers that branch extensively forming delicate networks. Signup and view all the answers

Name some cells found in connective tissue.

Fibroblast, chondroblast, and osteoblasts. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hematopoietic stem cell?

An undifferentiated blast cell that produces blood cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of blast cells?

They synthesize the matrix. Signup and view all the answers

What kinds of cells does connective tissue store?

Fat cells, mobile cells (like white blood cells), and other cell types concerned with tissue response to injury. Signup and view all the answers

Where do oval-shaped mast cells typically cluster?

Along blood vessels. Signup and view all the answers

What do mast cells do?

They detect foreign microorganisms and mediate inflammation with heparin and protease. Signup and view all the answers

What are macrophages?

Large, irregularly shaped cells known as big eaters of dead tissue cells and foreign particles. Signup and view all the answers

Where are macrophages found?

Loose connective tissue, bone marrow, and lymphatic tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What is mesenchyme?

A common embryonic tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What are the subclasses of connective tissue proper?

Loose connective tissues and dense connective tissues. Signup and view all the answers

What are the functions of areolar connective tissue?

Support and bind other tissues, hold body fluids, defend against infection, and store nutrients as fat. Signup and view all the answers

What are the structural features of areolar connective tissue?

Loose arrangement of its fibers and high content of hyaluronic acid. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of areolar tissue?

Elastic fibers, collagenous fibers, fibroblast nuclei, macrophages, mast cells, and some white blood cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is lamina propria?

A thin layer of loose connective tissue which lies beneath the epithelium. Signup and view all the answers

What is adipose tissue?

Tissue where adipocytes constitute 90% of it, with a scanty matrix and closely packed cells. Signup and view all the answers

What does vascularize mean?

To provide a tissue with vessels, especially blood vessels. Signup and view all the answers

What is white fat adipose tissue?

Tissue that stores nutrients. Signup and view all the answers

What is brown fat adipose tissue?

Tissue that contains abundant mitochondria, using lipid fuels to heat the bloodstream. Signup and view all the answers

What is reticular loose connective tissue proper?

Tissue that has reticular fibers in a loose arrangement. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview of Connective Tissue

Connective tissue is the most abundant and widely distributed primary tissue in the body.
Skin is primarily composed of connective tissue.

Classes of Connective Tissue

Four main classes include:
- Connective tissue proper (e.g., fat, fibrous tissue of ligaments)
- Cartilage
- Bone tissue
- Blood

Functions of Connective Tissue

Binding and support
Protection
Insulation
Transportation of substances within the body

Components of Connective Tissue

Three main substances:
- Ground substance
- Fibers
- Cells

Extracellular Matrix

Comprised of ground substance and fibers, which provides structural support and regulates cellular activities.

Ground Substance

An unstructured material that fills the space between cells and contains fibers.
Composed of interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans.

Cell Adhesion Proteins

Examples include fibronectin and laminin, which help cells stick to the extracellular matrix.

Specific Connective Tissue Components

Chondroitin sulfate is a key structural element in cartilage.
The function of ground substance is to act as a sieve between blood capillaries and cells.
Fibers in connective tissue provide support, with three types existing:
- Collagenous (strongest and most abundant)
- Elastic
- Reticular fibers (fine, branching networks)

Types of Cells in Connective Tissue

Key cell types include:
- Fibroblasts (produce fibers)
- Chondroblasts (form cartilage)
- Osteoblasts (form bone)
- Hematopoietic stem cells (undifferentiated cells producing blood cells)

Function of Blast Cells

Blast cells synthesize the extracellular matrix.

Cell Types in Connective Tissue

Storage of fat cells, mobile cells (e.g., white blood cells), mast cells, and macrophages that respond to tissue injury.

Mast Cells

Typically cluster around blood vessels and act as sentinels to detect foreign microorganisms, mediating inflammation through heparin and proteases.

Macrophages

Large, irregularly shaped cells known as "big eaters," responsible for ingesting dead tissue and foreign particles.
Found in loose connective tissue, bone marrow, and lymphatic tissue.

Embryonic Tissue

Mesenchyme serves as a common embryonic connective tissue.

Subclasses of Connective Tissue Proper

Comprised of:
- Loose connective tissues (areolar, adipose, and reticular)
- Dense connective tissues (dense regular, dense irregular, and elastic)

Areolar Connective Tissue

Functions include supporting and binding other tissues, holding body fluids, defending against infection, and storing nutrients as fat.
Characterized by a loose arrangement of fibers and a high content of hyaluronic acid.

Components of Areolar Tissue

Contains elastic fibers, collagenous fibers, fibroblast nuclei, macrophages, mast cells, and some white blood cells.

Lamina Propria

A thin layer of loose connective tissue located beneath epithelial tissues, part of moist linings known as mucosa.

Adipose Tissue

Predominantly made of adipocytes (90%).
Features a scanty matrix with closely packed cells resembling chicken wire.

Vascularization

Refers to supplying a tissue with blood vessels; for instance, endocrine glands are highly vascularized.

Types of Adipose Tissue

White fat (stores nutrients) and brown fat (rich in mitochondria, generates heat from lipid fuels, primarily found in babies).

Reticular Loose Connective Tissue Proper

Characterized by loose reticular fibers that form delicate networks.

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Description

Test your knowledge on connective tissue with these flashcards. Learn about its types, functions, and importance in the body. Perfect for students of anatomy and biology!