APII: Connective Tissue

Question 1

What are the types of Connective Tissue?

Answer 1

1. Connective Tissue Proper / Fibrous C.T. Bend
2. Cartilage
3. Bone
4. Blood

Question 2

What is included in Connective Tissue Proper?

Answer 2

Tendons, ligaments, fascia, retinacula, aponeuroses, adipose

Question 3

What are the main components of all connective tissues?

Answer 3

1. Cells
2. Extracellular protein fibers
3. Ground Substance

Question 4

What types of cells are found in connective tissue?

Answer 4

Different types of cells for different types of C.T.

Question 5

What type of fibers are found in C.T. proper?

Answer 5

LOTS of fibers

Question 6

What percentage of bone is collagen?

Answer 6

Approx. 30%

Question 7

What happens to bone without fibers?

Answer 7

Brittle as chalk

Question 8

What is gelatin made from?

Answer 8

Collagen from bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage

Question 9

What type of proteins are found in blood?

Answer 9

Plasma proteins

Question 10

What is the ground substance in C.T. Proper like?

Answer 10

Thick, viscous, gel-like fluid

Question 11

What effect does hydration have on ground substance?

Answer 11

The more hydrated it is, the more liquid it becomes

Question 12

What is the consistency of cartilage’s ground substance?

Answer 12

Solid gel

Question 13

What is the consistency of bone’s ground substance?

Answer 13

Mineralized

Question 14

What is the consistency of blood’s ground substance?

Answer 14

Plasma

Question 15

What are the functions of connective tissue?

Answer 15

• Provide structural framework
• Transport substances from one region to another
• Protection for delicate organs
• Support, surround, and interconnect other tissue types
• Store energy reserves
• Defend body from invasion by microorganisms

Question 17

What is cartilage?

Answer 17

Cartilage is avascular, meaning it has no blood supply, and nutrients must diffuse through the gel matrix. This is why it heals slowly.

Question 18

What are chondrocytes?

Answer 18

Chondrocytes are the cells found in cartilage.

Question 19

What are lacunae?

Answer 19

Lacunae are the spaces where chondrocytes are located.

Question 20

What are the three types of cartilage?

Answer 20

1. Hyaline cartilage - found at the ends of bones, nose, larynx, trachea, ribs.
2. Fibrocartilage - found in intervertebral discs, pubis symphysis, sacroiliac joints.
3. Elastic cartilage - found in ears and epiglottis.

Question 21

What are fibroblasts?

Answer 21

Fibroblasts are cells that build fibers and produce proteins in the ground substance.

Question 22

What are macrophages?

Answer 22

Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that act as phagocytes.

Question 23

What are adipose cells?

Answer 23

Adipose cells are fat cells.

Question 24

What are stem cells?

Answer 24

Stem cells are partially undifferentiated cells that can turn into other types of connective tissue cells.

Question 25

What are mast cells?

Answer 25

Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that produce histamine and heparin, which are involved in inflammation.

Question 26

What are collagen fibers?

Answer 26

Collagen fibers are made of the protein collagen, are long, straight, unbranched, and strong but not very elastic. They are sometimes called white fibers.

Question 27

What percentage of all protein in the body is collagen?

Answer 27

Collagen makes up 25% of all protein in the body.

Question 28

What are reticular fibers?

Answer 28

Reticular fibers are also made of collagen but are woven into a 3D net, providing a framework for some organs like the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow.

Question 29

What are elastic fibers?

Answer 29

Elastic fibers are made of the protein elastin, are branched and wavy, and return to their original length after being stretched. They are sometimes called yellow fibers.