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Questions and Answers
What is the most diverse group of tissues in the body?
What is the most diverse group of tissues in the body?
Connective tissue
What is the common origin of all connective tissues?
What is the common origin of all connective tissues?
Mesenchyme
What is the difference between epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells?
What is the difference between epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells?
Epithelial cells have a fixed and neatly arranged shape, while mesenchymal cells are loosely arranged and can move from place to place.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of connective tissue?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of connective tissue?
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Which of the following is NOT a component of the extracellular matrix?
Which of the following is NOT a component of the extracellular matrix?
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Which type of fiber is the strongest and most abundant?
Which type of fiber is the strongest and most abundant?
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What is the function of elastic fibers?
What is the function of elastic fibers?
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What is the function of reticular fibers?
What is the function of reticular fibers?
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Which type of connective tissue is most diverse?
Which type of connective tissue is most diverse?
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Which type of connective tissue is found in tendons and ligaments?
Which type of connective tissue is found in tendons and ligaments?
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What is the function of adipose tissue?
What is the function of adipose tissue?
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Which type of connective tissue is found in the dermis?
Which type of connective tissue is found in the dermis?
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Which type of connective tissue is found in tendons?
Which type of connective tissue is found in tendons?
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Which type of connective tissue is found in the walls of arteries?
Which type of connective tissue is found in the walls of arteries?
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Which type of connective tissue is found in the umbilical cord?
Which type of connective tissue is found in the umbilical cord?
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Areolar connective tissue has fewer fibers and more cells and ground substance than dense connective tissue?
Areolar connective tissue has fewer fibers and more cells and ground substance than dense connective tissue?
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Adipose tissue is a type of dense connective tissue?
Adipose tissue is a type of dense connective tissue?
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The dermis is a layer of connective tissue that contains collagen and elastin fibers?
The dermis is a layer of connective tissue that contains collagen and elastin fibers?
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Tendon and ligament are both types of dense irregular connective tissue?
Tendon and ligament are both types of dense irregular connective tissue?
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Elastic cartilage is the most abundant type of cartilage?
Elastic cartilage is the most abundant type of cartilage?
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Bone is a type of connective tissue.
Bone is a type of connective tissue.
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Which of the following is NOT a function of connective tissues?
Which of the following is NOT a function of connective tissues?
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Which type of connective tissue forms the framework of the spleen and lymph nodes?
Which type of connective tissue forms the framework of the spleen and lymph nodes?
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Which type of connective tissue is found in the subcutaneous layer of the skin?
Which type of connective tissue is found in the subcutaneous layer of the skin?
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What is the main function of tendon?
What is the main function of tendon?
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What is the main function of ligament?
What is the main function of ligament?
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Define the function of fibroblast.
Define the function of fibroblast.
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What is the function of the ground substance in connective tissue?
What is the function of the ground substance in connective tissue?
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What are the three main types of fibers found in connective tissue?
What are the three main types of fibers found in connective tissue?
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Study Notes
Connective Tissues
- Extremely diverse tissue group supporting and binding tissues in all organs.
- Origin is mesenchyme, an embryonic tissue with loose, fluid-like characteristics. Mesenchymal cells, unique to this tissue, can move around. They contrast with epithelial cells that are fixed and layered.
Connective Tissue Characteristics
- Variable vascularity (blood flow) with some examples being avascular (lacking blood vessels). Examples presented include cartilage and dense irregular tissue in skin.
- Contains cells separated by intercellular space.
Connective Tissue Components
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Extracellular Matrix is the non-living, inert component made of:
- Ground Substance: A watery, flexible substance holding cells and offering protection and support to cells. Composed of starch, proteins, and water with proteoglycans acting as an anchoring framework. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) sprout from proteoglycans.
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Fibers: Providing support and structure to the ground substance. Three types include:
- Collagen: Strongest, most abundant, tough but flexible fibers, offering high resistance to tension.
- Elastic Fibers: Longer, thinner, branching fibers made of elastin. This allows them to stretch and recoil and are found in skin, lungs, and blood vessel walls.
- Reticular Fibers: Short, thin collagen fibers coated in glycoprotein. Forming sponge-like, delicate networks to support organs.
Connective Tissue Cells
- Blasts: Immature cells undergoing mitosis and differentiation into specific cell types. Examples given include chondroblasts (cartilage), osteoblasts (bone), and fibroblasts. This can be considered stem cells.
- Cytes: Mature cells, which result from differentiation of the blast cells. They maintain the extracellular matrix.
- Macrophages: An immune defense component to phagocytize bacteria, foreign matter, and dead cells in connective tissue.
Connective Tissue Proper
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Loose Connective Tissue: Characterized by fewer fibers and more cells and ground substance. Examples of loose connective tissue include:
- Areolar: The most common, found under epithelial tissues, surrounding organs. Its fibers are randomly arranged and there are few fibroblasts, lots of open space.
- Adipose: Fat tissue is mainly composed of adipocytes storing lipids for later use. It insulates against heat loss and provides fuel storage.
- Reticular: Provides soft internal framework or stroma of spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. It supports developing blood cells.
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Dense Connective Tissue: Characterized by more fibers and less ground substance and cells. Examples of dense connective tissue include:
- Regular: Collagen fibers stacked neatly; tendons and ligaments.
- Irregular: Collagen fibers arranged in various directions and forming a matrix; found in dermis and organ capsules.
- Elastic: Composed of collagen with interwoven elastic fibers; enabling flexibility and support such as in ligaments between vertebrae, connecting bones for twisting and bending and in arteries.
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Description
Explore the diverse types and characteristics of connective tissues in our body. This quiz covers the essential components, such as the extracellular matrix, ground substance, and fibers, highlighting their roles in supporting and binding various tissues. Test your knowledge on the origin of these tissues and their vascularity.
