Connective Tissue🧩

Question 1

Fill in the gaps:

Connective Tissue has ____________ depending on ____________ of the tissue.

Answer 1

Connective Tissue has a diverse structural arrangement depending on location and function of the tissue

Question 2

What is the most abundant tissue within the human body and why?

Answer 2

Connective Tissue
- Because connective tissues constitute a proportion of all of our organs

Question 3

What is a general rule of thumb for the function of connective tissue?

Answer 3

function of connective tissues is to provide structural and/or functional support to the other tissues and organs that they comprise.

Question 4

What are all the functions of connective tissues?

Answer 4

-Provide structural and functional support
-Supportive an connective framework- holds everything in place whilst providing flexibility and movement
-Other functions;
Energy Storage
Organs Protection
Structural Integrity

Question 5

Give examples of connective tissues

Answer 5

• Bone (structural integrity)
• Cartilage (protect joints, structural integrity)
• Tendons and ligaments (connect muscle to bone, protect joints)
• Adipose tissue (energy storage)
• Mesentery (connects intestine to abdomen)
• Layers under skin and around organs (support )

Since these connective tissues perform different functions, each will have a different structural arrangement that reflects and supports their function

Question 6

For a tissue to be classified as connective tissue, it must have what 3 main components?

Answer 6

-Ground Substance
-Fibres
-Cells

Question 7

What makes up the extracellular matrix

Answer 7

-Ground Substance
-Fibres

Question 8

Are the three main components of connective tissue (Ground Substance, Fibres, Cells) similar?

Answer 8

Each of these three components can differ tremendously depending on the function of the tissue

Question 9

What is the structure of connective tissues like?

Answer 9

Composed of cells surrounded and separated from each other by the extracellular matrix

Question 10

How does the Structure of connective tissues contrast with epithelial tissue structure?

Answer 10

In epithelial tissues, their cells are tightly anchored to each other to form a barrier, but the cells in connective tissue are not typically in direct contact with each other.

Question 11

Expand on this Diagram

Answer 11

• Cells separated by extracellular matrix (ECM)
• ECM provides structural and biochemical support for cells
• Most of the mass of connective tissues comes from the extracellular matrix

Question 12

What is the structure of the extracellular matrix

Answer 12

Is composed of two components:
- Fibres
- Ground Substance

Question 13

What is ground substance like?

Answer 13

a semi- solid gel (like jelly)
-Its full of water
-lacks structural Integrity

Question 14

Since ground substance lacks structural integrity, what is integrity of the extracellular matrix provided by?

Answer 14

Fibres

Question 15

How is structural integrity of the extracellular matrix provided by fibres?

Answer 15

-These fibres can come in a variety of different arrangements
-Can criss-cross through the tissue to provide a supporting framework for both the ground substance and the cells

Question 16

What does ground substance provide?

Answer 16

-Biochemical Support to tissue
-Tissue Volume
-Compression Resistance- If body is squished or damage, tissue absorbs some of the impact

Question 17

What is ground substance composed of?

Answer 17

*Composed of glycoproteins and complex carbohydrates e.g.
-Hyaluronic acid
-Glucosamine,

Question 18

What can ground substance bind to?

Answer 18

-Water
-Has a profound water binding ability, as it is a water like gel

Question 19

What does ground substance support?

Answer 19

intercellular exchange of substances- exchange of substances between cells

Question 20

What is the function of fibres?

Answer 20

Provide Structural Support and tensile strength

Question 21

What are the two types of fibres?

Answer 21

-Collagen
-Elastin

Question 22

Describe collagen fibres?

Answer 22

strongest and most abundant, provide tensile strength

Question 23

Describe elastin fibres?

Answer 23

long and branched, provide stretch and recoil ability to tissue.

Question 24

How are collagen fibres secreted?

Answer 24

• Secreted into ECM by connective tissue cells

Question 25

What is collagen composed of?

Answer 25

-Subunits (fibrils), which are made up of myofibrils -Fibrils are rope-like structures that are long and thin

Question 26

-How many different types of collagen have been identified? -What are the most common types?

Answer 26

-At least 28 different types -Most tissue are types I-IV (1-4)

Question 27

Where is type I collagen found? describe its arrangement?

Answer 27

found in fibrous tissues (dermis of skin, tendons, ligaments, bone) -Irregular arrangement which provides strength in multiple directions

Question 28

Where is type II collagen found?

Answer 28

Hyaline Cartilage

Question 29

What colour does Type I collagen stain with H&E

Answer 29

Pink

Question 30

What is type III collagen and where is it found?

Answer 30

-Delicately branched reticular fibres -Supporting networks found in highly cellular organs e.g. Lymph Nodes and Liver

Question 31

What does Type IV collagen do and where is it found?

Answer 31

-Forms Network -Found in basement membranes

Question 32

Where is elastin synthesised and secreted?

Answer 32

Synthesised and secreted into ECM by connective tissue cells

Question 33

What is the function of elastin fibres?

Answer 33

Confers elasticity to tissues

Question 34

Where is elastin found in large amounts?

Answer 34

-Skin -Blood Vessels -Lungs -Bladder (Wherever the tissue need to stretch and recoil)

Question 35

How does elastin stain with H&E?

Answer 35

eosirphilic (pink)

Question 36

What is the function of the cells in connective tissues?

Answer 36

to synthesise, secrete and recycle ECM

Question 37

What are the 3 categories of cell found in connective tissue and their function?

Answer 37

***blasts – synthesise ECM ***cytes – maintain ECM ***clasts – breakdown ECM

Question 38

The full name of cells in connective tissues come from what

Answer 38

Where they come from (1st part) Function (2nd part)

Question 39

What are fibroblasts and what are their function?

Answer 39

-Most common connective tissue cell type -Secrete fibres and components of ground substance

Question 40

What do odontoblasts do?

Answer 40

Synthesise dentine in teeth

Question 41

What do chondrocytes do?

Answer 41

-Secrete and maintain ECM in cartilage

Question 42

What do adipocytes do?

Answer 42

maintain ECM in adipose tissue

Question 43

What do osteoclasts do?

Answer 43

recycle (breakdown) ECM in bone

Question 44

What do osteoblasts and osteocytes do?

Answer 44

Osteoblasts Secrete and maintain mineralised ECM in bone

Question 45

Unlike epithelium, what are connective tissues?

Answer 45

are highly vascularised, contain lots if blood and lymph vessels that run through the tissue - Contain blood vessels and lymphatic’s - Contain immune cells that survey tissues for invading pathogens/cell damage

Question 46

What are the exceptions to vascularisation of connective tissue?

Answer 46

Exception – cartilage, tendons and ligaments have no or fewer blood vessels So if these tissues get damaged they either take a long time to repair (as in the case of tendons and ligaments) or they’re not going to repair or regenerate (as in the case of cartilage)

Question 47

What are 3 classifications of connective tissue?

Answer 47

-Connective tissue proper -skeletal connective tissues -fluid connective tissues

Question 48

What connective tissues are classified as connective tissue proper?

Answer 48

* Broad category of diverse structure and functions * Have Loose or dense depending on arrangement of fibres

Question 49

What connective tissues are classified as skeletal?

Answer 49

* Cartilage * Bone

Question 50

What connective tissues are classified as fluid (off classification)?

Answer 50

* Blood * Lymph

Question 51

CONNECTIVE TISSUE PROPER connective tissues can be divided into what two categories? -Describe what each category is like

Answer 51

-LOOSE- Mostly ground substance, fewer fibres -DENSE- Mostly fibres, less ground substance

Question 52

Loose connective tissue proper can further divided into what three classifications

Answer 52

-Areolar tissue -Adipose tissue -Reticular tissue

Question 53

Describe Areolar Tissue (type of loose connective tissue proper) -What is it and its function? -Where is it found?

Answer 53

Universal packing material – supports and binds other tissues Found beneath skin, submucosa, surrounding capillaries

Question 54

Describe Adipose Tissue(type of loose connective tissue proper)- What is it and its function? -Where is it found?

Answer 54

-Functions include, energy storage, shock absorption, insulation -Found deep beneath skin, breasts, in the abdomen, finger and foot pads

Question 55

What is adipose tissue composed of?

Answer 55

Adipocytes- found in isolation or in small clusters

Question 56

Describe Reticular Tissue (type of loose connective tissue proper) -What is it and its function? -Where is it found?

Answer 56

-Delicate, branched network (type III collagen) -providing internal structure to highly cellular organs (liver, lymph nodes, spleen)

Question 57

What 3 classifications can dense connective tissue proper be divided into?

Answer 57

-Dense regular -Dense irregular -Elastic

Question 57

What 3 classifications can dense connective tissue proper be divided into?

Answer 57

-Dense regular -Dense irregular -Elastic

Question 58

What is Dense irregular tissue and where is it found? (Type of Dense connective tissue proper)

Answer 58

-Closely, packed interwoven fibres running in different directions -Found in dermis of skin, forms protective capsule around organs

Question 59

What is Dense regular tissue and where is it found? (Type of Dense connective tissue proper)

Answer 59

Closely, packed collagen fibres running in same direction Provides tensile strength – found in tendons and ligaments.

Question 60

What is elastic tissue and where is it found? (Type of Dense connective tissue proper)

Answer 60

-Dense regular tissue dominated by elastic fibres -Allows tissues to recoil after stretching -Found in arteries, skin, lungs and underlying transitional epithelium

Question 61

Name 3 Connective tissue disorders with oral manifestations

Answer 61

-Scurvy -Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE) -Sjogren’s

Question 62

What is scurvy caused by? What does it lead to?

Answer 62

-lack of vitamin C, leading to defective collagen formation - Loose teeth, skin haemorrhages, potential death

Question 62

What is scurvy caused by? What does it lead to?

Answer 62

-lack of vitamin C, leading to defective collagen formation - Loose teeth, skin haemorrhages, potential death

Question 63

Why is vitamin C important?

Answer 63

Vit C is a co-factor required for collagen synthesis

Question 64

What is the structure of vitamin C and how does it arise

Answer 64

-triple-helical structure -arises from an unusual abundance of three amino acids: Glycine Proline Hydroxyproline

Question 65

What happens without the structural support of collagen?

Answer 65

blood vessels, tendons, and skin become fragile.

Question 66

Systemic lupus Erythmatosis (SLE) What is it? What are the target tissues? Symptoms? Oral Manifestations?

Answer 66

-Autoimmune disease – autoantibodies target host tissues -Target tissues include, skin, bones, tendons, kidneys -Oral symptoms include dryness and soreness -Oral manifestations include buccal and palatal lesions

Question 67

Sjogren's What is it? Symptoms? Oral Manifestations? How can it occur?

Answer 67

-Autoimmune disease – autoantibodies affects glands that produce tears and saliva -Symptoms include dry eyes and mouth -Oral manifestations include increased dental caries and candidiasis -Can occur independently or accompany other disorders, such as, SLE or rheumatoid arthritis