Cells, Fibres, Ground Substance - Connective Tissue 1

Question 1

Derived from?

Answer 1

Mesoderm
Embedded in ground substance

Question 2

Types

Answer 2

Soft - tendons and ligaments
Hard - bone and cartilage
Specialised - blood and lymph

Question 3

What are the main cells

Answer 3

Fibroblasts
Macrophages
Plasma cells
Mast cells

Wide intercellular spaces are present

Question 4

Fibroblasts

Answer 4

• Most numerous
• Flattened, spindle-shaped from
  one aspect, irregular branching
  from other.
• Formation of
  collagen - very active
  in tissue repair

Question 5

Macrophage

Answer 5

• Phagocytic cells
• Amoebic in nature
• Important defence cells
• Irregular outline
• Small kidney-shaped nucleus
• Course granules in cytoplasm
• Known as a Monocyte in blood.

Question 6

Plasma cells

Answer 6

• Oval shaped with eccentrically
  placed nucleus
• nucleus stained resembles a cartwheel
• These cells synthesise and secrete
  specific antibodies
• Numerous in areas of inflammation
• Derived from ‘B’ lymphocytes.

Question 7

Mast cells

Answer 7

• Number of these varies
• Round cells with a central nucleus
• Contain course granules in
  cytoplasm
• Found in area of blood vessels
• Function - found in allergic
  responses, release histamine and
  heparin.

Question 8

What are the other connective tissue cells?

Answer 8

• pigment cells
• fat cells - vary in size and shape

Question 9

Connective tissue fibres

Answer 9

• collagen
• reticular
• elastic

Question 10

Collagen

Answer 10

Most common, widely
distributed.
Often have wavy course, cannot
be stretched, non branching.
Macroscopically - white/silver,
transversely striated.

Question 11

Reticular

Answer 11

Very fine collagen fibres, found
in very active tissue e.g. liver
and lymphoid tissue

Question 12

Elastic

Answer 12

• Yellow in colour
• May be stretched (x 11/2)
• Fibres can branch and
  anastamose