Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT a function of connective tissue?
Which of the following is NOT a function of connective tissue?
Which type of connective tissue cell is responsible for producing histamine?
Which type of connective tissue cell is responsible for producing histamine?
What component of connective tissue serves as a medium for substance exchange and supports cells?
What component of connective tissue serves as a medium for substance exchange and supports cells?
What is the primary role of collagen fibers in connective tissue?
What is the primary role of collagen fibers in connective tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
Which connective tissue cell type is responsible for engulfing material through phagocytosis?
Which connective tissue cell type is responsible for engulfing material through phagocytosis?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main defect in Marfan syndrome?
What is the main defect in Marfan syndrome?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of connective tissue fiber is made of elastin and provides elasticity?
Which type of connective tissue fiber is made of elastin and provides elasticity?
Signup and view all the answers
What characteristic distinguishes connective tissue from epithelial tissue?
What characteristic distinguishes connective tissue from epithelial tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of collagen fibers in connective tissue?
What is the primary function of collagen fibers in connective tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of cartilage is known for being the weakest among the three types?
Which type of cartilage is known for being the weakest among the three types?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of cartilage lacks a perichondrium?
Which type of cartilage lacks a perichondrium?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main characteristic of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in blood tissue?
What is the main characteristic of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in blood tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes spongy bone from compact bone?
What distinguishes spongy bone from compact bone?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of connective tissue is responsible for the maintenance of blood calcium levels during osteoporosis?
What type of connective tissue is responsible for the maintenance of blood calcium levels during osteoporosis?
Signup and view all the answers
Which cell type is primarily involved in immunity within blood tissue?
Which cell type is primarily involved in immunity within blood tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the unique structural feature of elastic cartilage?
What is the unique structural feature of elastic cartilage?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of loose connective tissue is primarily responsible for insulating and serving as an energy reserve?
Which type of loose connective tissue is primarily responsible for insulating and serving as an energy reserve?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following correctly describes Dense Regular Connective Tissue?
Which of the following correctly describes Dense Regular Connective Tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary function of Reticular Connective Tissue?
What is the primary function of Reticular Connective Tissue?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of connective tissue is typically found in areas subject to multi-directional pulling forces?
Which type of connective tissue is typically found in areas subject to multi-directional pulling forces?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary component found in cartilage that provides it with elasticity and the ability to withstand stress?
What is the primary component found in cartilage that provides it with elasticity and the ability to withstand stress?
Signup and view all the answers
Which connective tissue type is densely packed with collagen fibers in an irregular pattern and found in the dermis of the skin?
Which connective tissue type is densely packed with collagen fibers in an irregular pattern and found in the dermis of the skin?
Signup and view all the answers
Which tissue type is characterized by its ability to regain shape after stretching, due to branching elastic fibers?
Which tissue type is characterized by its ability to regain shape after stretching, due to branching elastic fibers?
Signup and view all the answers
Which connective tissue cell is primarily responsible for producing fibers and the ground substance?
Which connective tissue cell is primarily responsible for producing fibers and the ground substance?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Connective Tissue Overview
- Connective tissue binds, supports, and strengthens other tissues.
- It protects and insulates internal organs.
- It compartmentalizes structures like skeletal muscle.
- It's the body's major transport system.
- It stores energy reserves.
- It's the primary site of immune responses.
General Features of Connective Tissue
- Composed of cells and matrix.
- Matrix is the material between widely spaced cells, consisting of protein fibers and ground substance.
- Ground substance is the material between the cells and fibers, secreted by the cells, and determines tissue qualities.
- Connective tissue doesn't occur on free surfaces.
- It has a nerve supply (except in cartilage and tendons).
- It's highly vascular (except in cartilage and tendons).
Connective Tissue Cells
- Fibroblasts: large, flat cells with branching processes that migrate throughout connective tissue and secrete ground substance and fibers.
- Macrophages: develop from white blood cells; surround and engulf material via phagocytosis.
- Mast cells: alongside blood vessels that supply connective tissue; produce histamine (a chemical that dilates blood vessels).
- Adipocytes ("fat cells"): store triglycerides.
Connective Tissue Matrix - Ground Substance
- Ground substance is a component of connective tissue that is between cells and fibers.
- It supports cells, binds them together, and provides a medium for substance exchange.
- Hyaluronic acid is an example of ground substance.
Connective Tissue Matrix - Fibers
- Collagen fibers strengthen and support connective tissue.
- They're strong, resist pulling forces, and are flexible.
- Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body.
- Elastic fibers are smaller in diameter than collagen fibers, branching to form networks.
- They're made of the protein elastin.
- Reticular fibers provide support to the walls of blood vessels.
- They are made of collagen with a glycoprotein covering.
Connective Tissue Types
- There are six types of connective tissue.
- Each type differs in their fiber, ground substance, and cell composition.
- Each type has very specific structure and function.
Loose Connective Tissue
- Fibers are loosely intertwined among many cells.
- 3 types:
- Areolar: one of the most widely distributed connective tissues; contains fibroblasts, macrophages, plasma cells, mast cells, adipocytes, various fiber types, and forms the subcutaneous layer.
- Adipose: cells (adipocytes) specialized to store triglycerides.
- Reticular: made of interlacing reticular fibers and reticular cells that connect to form a network; used to bind smooth muscle cells and filter worn-out blood cells and bacteria.
Dense Connective Tissue
- Contains more, thicker, and denser fibers but fewer cells than loose connective tissue.
- 3 types:
- Dense Regular: bundles of collagen fibers arranged regularly, parallel, giving strong structure, withstands pulling at ends, but unravels when pulled from the side
- Dense Irregular: collagen fibers packed closely together in an irregular, random pattern, found where pulling forces are exerted in various directions.
- Elastic: contains branching elastic fibers and fibroblasts; yellowish in color; strong; can regain shape after stretching; found in lungs and arteries.
Cartilage
- Dense network of collagen and elastic fibers embedded in chondroitin sulfate (a rubbery component).
- Can withstand more stress than dense or loose connective tissue.
- Collagen fibers make the tissue strong, while chondroitin sulfate makes it resilient.
- Cartilage cells (chondrocytes) are located in lacunae (holes in the matrix).
- Perichondrium: dense irregular connective tissue surrounding cartilage (but cartilage is avascular and lacks nerve supply).
- 3 types: hyaline, fibrocartilage, elastic.
Bone Tissue (Osseous Tissue)
- 2 types: compact and spongy.
- Compact:
- Osteon: basic unit of compact bone.
- Lamellae: concentric circles of matrix.
- Lacunae: spaces in the matrix that house cells (osteocytes).
- Spongy:
- Trabeculae: columns of bone with spaces filled with red bone marrow.
Blood Tissue
- Connective tissue with a fluid matrix (plasma).
- Contains red blood cells (erythrocytes) to transport oxygen, white blood cells (leukocytes) with various immune functions, and platelets to participate in blood clotting.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
