Connective tissue 1 Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is ground substance and what is it composed of?
What is its function?
It’s the amorphous gel-like substance surrounding connective tissue cells. Composed of:
- Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS)
- Proteoglycans
- Glycoproteins
It functions as a lubricant and barrier
NOTE: Usually white space around connective tissue cells
What are Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS)?
UNBRANCHED polysaccharide chains
What are glycoproteins and how are they different from proteoglycans (both of which are found in ground substance)?
Glycoproteins: Proteins w/ oligosaccharides attached to polypeptide side-chains
Proteoglycans: Proteins that are heavily glycosylated, many times with GAGS
What are the 3 types of fibers in Connective Tissue and what are they fromed from?
1) Collagen fibers: formed from collagen (in skin and is pink)
2) Elastic fibers: formed from elastin (in aorta)
3) Reticular fibers: formed from collagen (found in soft tissues like liver (scaffolding))
Where is collagen type I found?
- Bone
- Connective Tissue proper
- Dermis
- Fibrocartilage
- Tendon
NOTE: BCDFT
Where is Collagen II found?
- Cartilage
- IV disc of spine
NOTE: Only 2 to remember for Collagen II
Where is Collagen III found?
- Reticular tissue
- Loose CT
- Lamina reticularis
Mneumonic: 3 Roosters Love Lagers
Where is Collagen IV found?
Lamina densa (Renal)
Mneumonic: For Lady Desiree
ie 4 La De
Where is Collagen VII found?
Dermal-epidermal junction (skin)
Mneumonic: Seven Skin Derm Epiderm junction
Fibers (ie elastic and reticular) are synthesized and secreted by ______
Fibroblasts
How thick are elastic fibers and where are they found?
Usually quite thick; found in cartilage and large vessels
How thick are reticular fibers and where are they found?
usually quite THIN; found in tissues like spleen, and lymph node
NOTE: these fibers are there mainly to give substance to “soft” tissue
Where are macrophages typically found?
They are found all over the body usually you will spot them in holes though
How are mast cells distinguished?
They are rich in which 2 compounds?
It can be found in several types of tissue and they contain MANY GRANULES. They are very granular cells.
They are rich in Histamine and heparin
How are eosinophils distinguished and what do they do?
They look binucleate and a very pretty red.
They combat multicellular parasites and certain infections.
Where are lymphocytes found?
What do they look like?
What are the 2 classes?
They are most numerous in the lOOSE CT of the respiratory and GI tracts.
They look like black BB shots
There are B and T lymphocytes (look the same in connective tissue)
What are plasma cells?
What do they look like?
They are WBCs that produce large volumes of antibodies. They are derived from B lymphocytes.
They have a large purple nucleus with a clear surrounding (kind of look like cartoon eyes)
What are the 2 types of embryonic connective tissue?
Mesenchyme and
mucous CT. (mostly ground substance) (Known as Wharton’s jelly in Umbilical cord)
What is loose Connective Tissue made of?
What is its distinguishing feature?
Loosely arranged fibers (not many), ground substance, and MANY cells. It is also very vascular
The distinguishing feature is that it has more cells than mesenchyme
What are the types of loose CT?
loose acellular CT and loose cellular CT
What is dense irregular connective tissue made of?
Where is it found?
Many collagen fibers, FEW cells, little ground substance.
Found in skin, and surrounding cartilage and bone (ie perichondrium and periosteum).
NOTE: you can distinguish it b/c it has dense collagen “bundles”
What is dense REGULAR connective tissue made of?
MANY collagen fibers, FEW cells, VERY LITTLE ground substance.
NOTE: it’s designed for prolonged stress in one direction.
Ex: Tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses
