Untitled Quiz

Study Notes

Understand composition, types, and histophysiology of connective tissue.
Identify various cells, fibers, and ground substance in connective tissue.
Classify different types of connective tissue along with their functions and locations.
Explain histophysiological roles like structural support, defense, storage, and tissue repair.
Explore clinical correlations related to connective tissue disorders.

Connective tissue is one of the four main tissue types in the body.
Functions include structural support, organ protection, fluid transportation (blood, lymph), energy storage (adipose tissue), and defense (immune responses).

Cells:
- Fibroblasts: Produce fibers and ground substance.
- Macrophages: Phagocytic immune defense cells.
- Adipocytes: Fat storage cells.
- Mast Cells: Mediate allergic reactions.
- Plasma Cells: Produce antibodies.
Extracellular Matrix (ECM):
- Fibers:
  - Collagen: Provides tensile strength.
  - Elastic: Allows flexibility and elasticity.
  - Reticular: Forms supportive networks.
- Ground Substance:
  - Contains proteoglycans, GAGs, and glycoproteins facilitating nutrient and waste diffusion.

Connective Tissue Proper:
- Loose Connective Tissue:
  - Areolar: Provides elasticity, strength, located beneath epithelial tissue, contains collagen and elastic fibers.
  - Adipose: Energy storage, insulation, found in subcutaneous tissue with large fat droplets.
  - Reticular: Supports lymphatic organs, found in lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow with reticular fibers.
- Dense Connective Tissue:
  - Dense Regular: Provides tensile strength, found in tendons and ligaments, characterized by parallel collagen fibers.
  - Dense Irregular: Strength in multiple directions, located in the dermis of skin and organ capsules with irregular collagen fibers.
  - Elastic: Allows stretch and recoil, found in walls of large arteries and bronchial tubes, consists of dense elastic fibers.

Cartilage:
- Hyaline: Support with flexibility, located in the nose and trachea, contains chondrocytes in a glassy matrix.
- Elastic: Maintains shape while allowing flexibility, located in the external ear and epiglottis, has more elastic fibers in its matrix.
- Fibrocartilage: Absorbs compressive shock, located in intervertebral discs and pubic symphysis, characterized by thick collagen fibers.
Bone:
- Compact Bone: Supports and protects, stores calcium, located at the outer layer of bones with osteons and concentric lamellae.
- Spongy Bone: Lightweight, supports bone marrow, found inside bones with trabeculae containing red or yellow marrow.
Blood:
- Fluid connective tissue that transports oxygen, nutrients, waste, and immune cells.
- Components include red blood cells (RBCs) for oxygen transport, white blood cells (WBCs) for immunity, platelets for clotting, and plasma for carrying dissolved substances.
Lymph:
- Clear interstitial fluid involved in immune responses, circulating in the lymphatic system.