Connective Tissue

Question 1

What are the three main classifications of CT?

Answer 1

CT proper-loose and dense
Specialised CT
Supporting CT

Question 2

What are some examples of specialised CT?

Answer 2

Blood, lymph, nervous and haemopoietic

Question 3

What are some examples of supporting CT?

Answer 3

Bone, cartilage and bone marrow

Question 4

What are the functions of CT? (6)

Answer 4

1. CONNECTS-tissues, organs, body
2. TRANSPORT-nutrients and waste
3. PROTECT-cushion between tissues and organs and insulates
4. STORAGE (adipose tissue)
5. DEFENCE-against infection
6. WOUND HEALING-macrophages, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts

Question 5

What three things do all CT have?

Answer 5

Specialised cells
Protein fibres
Ground substance

Question 6

What is the matrix made up of?

Answer 6

Fibres and ground substance

Question 7

What are the two types of cells in loose CT?

Answer 7

Fixed cells for general maintenance of tissue

Wandering cells for defending and repairing damaged tissue

Question 8

Name 6 types of fixed cells in loose CT

Answer 8

Melanocytes
Macrophages
Mast cells
Fibroblasts
Mesenchymal cells
Adipocytes

Question 9

What are some examples of wandering cells in loose CT?

Answer 9

Leucocytes
Plasma
Monocytes
Eosinophils 
Basophils

Question 10

What are the three types of fibres in loose CT?

Answer 10

Reticular
Collagen
Elastic

Question 11

What are the three types of loose CT?

Answer 11

Areolar
Adipose
Reticular

Question 12

What type of collagen forms reticulin?

Answer 12

Type III

Question 13

What is the difference between loose and dense CT?(3)

Answer 13

Dense CT has:
More fibres
Less ground substance
Fewer cells (mainly fibroblasts)

Question 14

What are the three types of dense CT?

Answer 14

Dense regular
Dense irregular
Elastic

Question 15

What is ground substance?

Answer 15

Viscous, clear substance with slippery feel that has high water content. Composed of proteoglycans

Question 16

What is a proteoglycan?

Answer 16

Large macromolecule consisting of core protein to which glycosaminoglycans are covalently bonded

Question 17

What are glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)?

Answer 17

Long-chained polysaccharides which attract water to form a hydrated gel that permits rapid diffusion but also resists compression.

Question 18

What is an example of a GAG?

Answer 18

Hyaluronic acid

Question 19

What is hyaluronic acid?

Answer 19

A type of GAG that is bound to proteoglycans by a link protein to form giant hydrophilic macromolecules. It is present in the ground substance of cartilage.

Question 20

What is aponeurosis?

Answer 20

Flat sheet of regular CT with bundles of fibres in one layer, often arranged at 90 degrees to those in adjacent layers

Question 21

What type of CT is the dermis?

Answer 21

Dense irregular CT

Question 22

Where is loose CT located? (3)

Answer 22

Beneath epithelia to facilitate diffusion
Associated with epithelium of glands
Around small blood vessels

Question 23

What do mast cells do?

Answer 23

Stimulate local inflammation by releasing histamine

Question 24

What do fibroblasts do?

Answer 24

Produce extracellular fibres
Synthesise and secrete ground substance and fibres in ground substance
Wound healing

Question 25

What are mesenchymal cells?

Answer 25

Stem cells responsible for tissue repair

Question 26

Where can elastic fibres be found?

Answer 26

Dermis, artery walls and lungs

Question 27

Where is areolar CT found?

Answer 27

Beneath epithelial layers

Question 28

Where is adipose tissue found?

Answer 28

Beneath skin for insulation and protection

Question 29

Where is reticular tissue found?

Answer 29

Around glands

Question 30

Where can dense regular CT be found?

Answer 30

Tendons and ligaments