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BODY LOGISTICS > Connective Tissue > Flashcards

Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

Define connective tissue?

A

A tissue that connects, supports, binds, or separates other tissues or organs,
typically having relatively few cells embedded in an amorphous matrix =, often with collagen or other fibres.

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2
Q

What is connective tissue made up of?

A
  • Connective tissue cells and extracellular matrix ( (proteins/glycoproteins and ‘gels’.)
  • The ground substances and fibres make up the extracellular matrix.
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3
Q

What are the common cell types found in connective tissue?

What is their function

A
  • Fibroblasts.
    (Fibroblasts secrete collagen proteins that help maintain the structural framework of tissues.)
  • Chondrocytes.
    ( responsible for the production of collagen and the extracellular matrix that will lead to the maintenance of cartilaginous tissues within joints.)
  • Osteocytes/osteoblasts/osteoclasts.
    (to respond to mechanical strain and to send signals of bone formation or bone resorption to the bone surface,)
  • Stem cells/progenitor cells/bone marrow/blood/adipocytes.
    (Bone marrow-derived MSCs have been believed to play the role of a source of cells for the renewal and repair of connective tissues)
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4
Q

What are some examples of connective tissue?

A

Adipose, fibrous (dense), loose, blood, cartilage, & bone

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5
Q

What is the structure of connective tissue made up of?

A

Cells: mainly mature fibroblasts/fibrocytes, fixed adipocytes, reticular cells.
Fibres: collagens, elastin, reticular fibres.
Ground substance: proteoglycans.

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6
Q

What is the extracellular matrix in connective tissue?

A

Ground substance and fibres.

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7
Q

Give some functions of connective tissue?

A

Binding and supporting (e..g holding skin, gut, lungs etc).
Protecting (bones and vital organs).
Insulating (fat underlying skin).
Storing reserve fuel and cells (bone marrow and fat tissue).
Transporting substances within the body (blood and interstitium)
Seperation of tissues (fascia and tendons/cartilage).

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8
Q

What is the interstitium?

A

The space between tissues and organs of the body.

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9
Q

Connective tissue can be classified as…

A

Loose or dense.

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10
Q

Describe loose connective tissue?
What is it also known as

A
  • Also known as areolar (little space) connective tissue
  • It is in the Lamina Propria Beneath mucosal membranes
  • Attached to basal Lamina
  • It is the least specialised connective tissue in the adult
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11
Q

Describe dense connective tissue?
What are the different types

A

Also known as fibrous or collagenous tissue,.

There are two types

  • Occurs as dense regular
    (fibres running in parallel to each other) connective tissue (e.g. tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses, etc.) or as
  • Dense irregular
    (fibres running in different directions) connective tissue (e.g. dermis, deep fascia, joint capsule, organ capsules, etc.).
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12
Q

What is a macrophage called in tissue

A

They are called histiocytes

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13
Q

Describe the structure of loose connective tissue (areolar tissue)?

A

Contains multiple cell types: fibroblast, macrophages, white blood cells, mast cells, adipocytes.
Contains two main fibres: collagenous and elastic.
Contains a gel-like ground substance: proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid etc.
The cells, fibres and blood vessels all lie in ground substance.

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14
Q

Describe the functions of loose connective tissue (areolar tissue)?

A

Holds vessels that supply fluids.
Permits cell migration.
Involved in inflammation pathways.
Acts as packaging around organs.
Generally holds everything in place.
Cushions and stabilises organs.

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15
Q

Where is loose connective tissue (areolar tissue) found?

A

Widely distributed.
Under epithelial cell layers (e.g. lamina propria) and around glands, surrounds capillaries, nerves and sinusoids.

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16
Q

What are fibroblasts?

A

A common cell type found in connective tissue.
They are cells that synthesise and secrete fibrous proteins like elastin and collagen within the ground substance.

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17
Q

Why are fibroblasts important?

A

They are important in the wound healing process and are the cells primarily responsible for the formation of scar tissue.

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18
Q

What are myofibroblasts?

A

They are modified fibroblasts that contain actin and myosin. They are responsible for wound contraction when tissue loss has occured.

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19
Q

What are macrophages?

A

A common cell type found in connective tissue.
They are phagocytic and can degrade foreign organisms and cell debris.
They are professional antigen presenting cells (i.e. can present foreign material to the T lymphocytes of the immune system).

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20
Q

What are mast cells?

A

A common cell type found in connective tissue.
They are abundant alongside the blood vessels that supply connective tissue.
The produce histamine (a chemical that dilates small blood vessels/increases blood vessel wall permeability) as part of the inflammatory response, the body’s reaction to injury or infection.
Heparin (an anticoagulant).
Cytokines that attract eosinophils and neutrophils.
In addition, researchers have recently discovered that mast cells can bind to, ingest, and kill bacteria.

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21
Q

Where are mast cells found?

A

In areolar connective tissue near blood vessels.
Absent from the CNS (avoid damaging effects of oedema).

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22
Q

Describe the role of mast cells and immunoglobulin?

A

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) are a class of antibodies.
IgE molecules are bound to mast cells, which are found in loose connective tissue.
When enough antigen has bound with the IgE antibodies, the mast cells release granules of histamine and heparin and produce other agents such as the leukotrienes.

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23
Q

What are adipocytes (unilocular: one loculus or cavity; single-chambered)?

A

A common cell type found in connective tissue.
Stores fat.
In loose connective tissue the adipocytes are white to yellow so called white adipocytes.
They are a single enormous lipid droplet with the nucleus, cytoplasm and organelles all squeezed to one side of the cell (nucleus disappeared to periphery of each adipocyte).

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24
Q

What is the function of adipocytes (unilocular)?

A

To act as padding and a shock absorber.
Provide insulation and act as an energy reserve.

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25
Q

What are adipocytes (multilocular: having or divided into many small chambers or vesicles)?

A

Brown adipocytes which are found in babies or hibernating animals.
Very few of these in adults.
They are multiple small lipid droplets, with the nucleus, cytoplasm and organelles all squeezed into the centre of the cell.
Adipocytes are a common cell type found in connective tissue.

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26
Q

What is the function of adipocytes (multilocular)?

A

Provides insulation and acts as an energy reserve.

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27
Q

How can you differentiate between unilocular and multilocular adipocyte cells?

A

Unilocular will have the nucleus on its periphery whereas in multilocular the nucleus and other organelles will be squeezed into the centre.

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28
Q

Describe white adipose tissue?

A

Single lipid droplet.
Normal number of mitochondria.
Single peripherial nucleus.
In adults, lipid breakdown is slow and heat is only generated after shivering reflex.

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29
Q

Describe brown adipose tissue?

A

Multiple lipid droplets.
Increased number of mitochondria.
Single central nucleus.
In neonates and young children, lipid breakdown is accelerated, oxidative phosphorylation is uncoupled to generated heat (calories generated can double).

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30
Q

How are adipose cells generated?

A

From immature fibroblasts or mesenchymal (cells that develop into connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymphatic tissue) stem cells.

31
Q

What are the three fibres that make up connective tissue?

A

Collagen, elastin and reticulin.

32
Q

What is collagen type I?

A

The most widely distributed. Fibrils aggrate into fibres and fibre bundles.
E.g. in tendons, capsules of organs or skin dermis.

33
Q

What is collagen type II?

A

Fibrils do not form fibres.
Present in hyaline and elastic cartilage.

34
Q

What is collagen type III?

A

Fibrils form fibres around muscle and nerve cells and within lymphatic tissues and lymphatic organs (e.g. spleen) and in tendons.
It is called reticulin.

35
Q

What is collagen type IV?

A

Unique form present basement membrane.
Considered of epithelial tissues

36
Q

What is the Extracellular Matrix

A

Extracellular matrix; A term used to describe a complex extracellular structural network that consists of ground substance and fibres

37
Q

What is collagen?

A

Fibrous protein that gives the skin form and strength.
Most common protein in our body.
With ground substance makes up the extracellular matrix.

38
Q

Describe the function of collagen in connective tissue?

A

Flexible with high tensile strength.

39
Q

Describe the function of reticular/reticulin in connective tissue (only in dense/fibrous not areolar/loose)?

A

Provide a supporting framework/sponge.

40
Q

Describe the function of elastin in connective tissue?

A

Allows tissues to recoil after stretch or distenstion.

41
Q

Where is loose connective (areolar) tissue located?

A

Located beneath epithelia (to facilitate diffusion).
Associaled with epithelium of glands.
Located around small blood vessels.

42
Q

How can loose connective (areolar) tissue provide protection to where its located?

A

Sites are where bacteria can breach the epithelial surface and be challenged/destroyed by the cells of the immune system.
During these reactions, loose connective tissue can undergo considerable swelling because it has the facility to expand then return to its original size.

43
Q

How can loose connective (areolar) tissue provide protection to where its located?

A

Sites are where bacteria can breach the epithelial surface and be challenged/destroyed by the cells of the immune system.
During these reactions, loose connective tissue can undergo considerable swelling because it has the facility to expand then return to its original size.

44
Q

Give some examples of loose connective tissue?

A

Superficial fascia (also known as subcutaneous tissue) is very loose and mobile as it is on the surface of the face or the dorsum of the hand. (Superficial layer of the dermis in the skin).
Submucosa of the colon.

45
Q

What is ground substance?

A

A viscous, clear substance with a slippery feel (it has a high water content).
Made up of proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) (long chained polysaccharides).
The GAGs attract water to form a hydrated gel (permits rapid diffusion but also resists compression)

46
Q

What are proteoglycans?

A

Large macromolecules consisting of a core protein to which glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are covalently bound.

47
Q

Give an example of a glycosaminoglycan (GAG)?

A

Hyaluronic acid.
Bound to proteoglycans by a link protein to form giant hydrophilic macromolecules.
Present in the ground surface of cartilage.

48
Q

Describe the proteoglycan structure?

A

Hyaluronate is the key.
GAGs (chondroitin sulphate and keratan sulphate are attached to the core proteins.
These are in turn attached to the hyluronate
The sugar molecules attract water but make the ground substance sticky and slippery at the same time.

49
Q

What are the two types of dense connective tissue?

A

Regular and irregular.

50
Q

Give some examples of regular dense connective tissue?

A

Tendon consisting of a cylindrical mass of connective tissue at the end of a muscle (e.g. the biceps brachii muscle)
Ligament consisting of parallel arrays of collagen fibres (e.g. ligament around a joint)
Aponeurosis is a tendon flattened into a thin broad sheath (e.g. those transmitting the force of the oblique abdominal muscles or the palmar surface of the hand)

51
Q

Describe the appearance of regular dense connective tissue in the tendons?

A

Collagen bundles lie in parallel, densely packed formation in line with the tensile force exerted by the muscle.
Rows of elongated flattened fibroblasts lie between the collagen bundles.

52
Q

What is the myotendinous junction?

A

Where the skeletal muscle fibres connect with the tendon collagen bundles.
This provoides tremendous physiological strength.
The collagen passes from the tendon to the muscle fibres where it interacts with the collagen fibres coating the muscle fibres.
Cross links between these fibres creates mechanical strength.

53
Q

Give some examples of irregular dense connective tissue?

A

Dermis containing collagen bundles in a multi-dimensional orientation to enable the tissue to withstand multi-directional tension.
Deep Fascia covering large muscles or as prolongations between muscle groups to form compartments (e.g. anterior and posterior compartments of the arm).

54
Q

Describe the appearance of irregular dense connective tissue in the dermis of the skin?

A

Densely packed but irregularly orientated collagen bundles.
Fibroblast nuclei.
Fibroblast cytoplasm.

55
Q

Why is having irregular dense connective tissue in the dermis of the skin useful?

A

Skin can thus resist forces in multiple directions to prevent tearing.
The elastic fibres allow a degress of stretch and restoration to the original shape after the skin is bent or folded.

56
Q

Describe tendon anatomy?

A

Very strong: stronger than muscle and as strong as bone.
Forces can be transmitted along collagen bundles because they can glide over each other.
Mainly made of water.
Mainly made up of Collagen I and Collagen III (reticulin).

57
Q

Summarise irregular dense connective tissue?

A

Contains fibroblasts.
Collagen I fibres in all directions.
Resists stresses in all directions.
E.g. deep layer of the dermis, submucosa of the intestine.

58
Q

Summarise regular dense connective tissue?

A

Contains fibroblasts.
Collagen I fibres in parallel.
Resists stress in only one direction.
E.g. tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses.

59
Q

Describe ligaments and their regular dense connective tissue?

A

They are similar to tendons but connect bone to bone.
Parallel collagen fibres (densely packed)
Not straight but do undulate.
Wrapped in loose connective tissue called fasicles which arrange the collagen fibres.

60
Q

What is fasica?

A

A connective tissue. There are three types:
superficial, deep, visceral or parietal.

Fascia is made up of fibrous connective tissue containing closely packed collagen fibres orientated in a wavy pattern parallel to the direction of pull.
Fascia is flexible and able to resist unidirectional tension forces until the wavy pattern of fibres has been straightened out by the pulling force.
Collagen fibres are produced by fibroblasts locaed within the fascia

61
Q

Disorders of connective tissues include:

A

Scurvy (vitamin C deficiency)
Marfan’s syndrome (mutation of fibrillin 1 gene)
Osteogenesis imperfect (mutation in col1A or col2A).

62
Q

Describe collagen fibril production?

A

Fibroblasts secrete procollagen that is converted to collagen molecules outside the cell.
Collagen molecules are then aggregated to form the final collagen fibrils.
Vitamin C is required for the intracellular production of procollagen where it hydroxylates proline and lysine (this helps form procollagen that is packages, released and modified into collagen).

63
Q

Why is vitamin C important?

A

For collagen formation. Without it this is disrupted.

64
Q

What does a vitamin C deficiency cause?

A

Scurvy. A condition that includes poor wound healing and impaired bone formation (inability to heal wounds and bone fractures).

65
Q

What are the symptoms and signs of scurvy?

A

Gum disease and tooth loss.
Bruising of the skin and hair loss.
Bleeding.
Poor wound healing.
Weakness and fatigue.
Impaired bone development in the young,

66
Q

What is Marfan’s syndrome?

A

An autosomal dominant disorder in which expression of the fibrillin 1 gene is affected such that elastic tissue is abormal.
Suffereres are abnormally tall, exhibit arachnodactyl, have frequent join disolaction and can be at risk of catastrophic aortic rupture.

67
Q

What is Marfan’s syndrome caused by?

A

By mutations in the fibrillin gene whose protein product binds to and supports the function of elastin. Loss of fibrillin protein, results in disorders of elastin function leading to tissue irregularities such as long bones, lax joints and fragile vascular walls.

68
Q

Describe elastin fibres?

A

Elastin is the primary component of elastic fibres.
It enfolds itself and is surrounded by microfibrils called fibrillin.
Occurs in most connective tissues.

69
Q

What are the sites in which elastic fibres have an important role?

A

Dermis, artery walls, lungs, sites bearing elastic cartilage.

70
Q

Elastin is made up of which amino acids?

A

Desmosine and isodesmosine.
These are unique and only found in elastin fibres.
If preent in urine then show signs of disease.

71
Q

What is osteogenesis imperfecta?

A

Brittle bone disease.
Encompasses a number of different genetic aetiologies (most are autosomal dominant).
Mild to severe disease.
Due to mutated collagen fibres that do not knit together, or not enough produced, or both.

72
Q

What are the problems associed with osteogenesis imperfecta?

A

Weakened bones (fractures are common)
Short stature.
Presence of blue sclera (eyes)
Hearing loss
Hypermobility (loose joints and flat or arched feet)
Poor teeth development.

73
Q

What is the Extracellular Matrix

A

Extracellular matrix; A term used to describe a complex extracellular structural network that consists of ground substance and fibres

74
Q

What is Muciod connective tissue

A

Loose connective tissue, the intercellular matrix of which consists predominantly of mucoid ground substance. Examples: Mucoid tissue of umbilical cord

BODY LOGISTICS (16 decks)

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