Connective Tissue

Question 1

Where is connective tissue found?

Answer 1

Lies beneath epithelia

Question 2

What is function of connective tissue?

Answer 2

Provides structural and metabolic support for organs and tissues. Also fills space between organs and tissues

Question 3

What makes up connective tissue?

Answer 3

Cells and extracellular matrix

Question 4

What is extracellular matrix and what is it made up of?

Answer 4

Gel-like substance made up of protein fibres. Contains ground substance.

Question 5

What protein fibres are found in ECM?

Answer 5

Collagen & fibrin

Question 6

What is found in ground substance?

Answer 6

GAGs, structural proteins, either collagen OR elastin fibres

Question 7

What cells are found in connective tissue?

Answer 7

Fibroblasts, adipocytes, immune cells

Question 8

What is function of fibroblasts?

Answer 8

Make collagen, elastin, GAGs. Play role in secretion of ECM components

Question 9

What is function of adipocytes?

Answer 9

Store fat

Question 10

What are 2 classifications of connective tissue?

Answer 10

Loose irregular connective tissue. Dense regular connective tissue

Question 11

What is function of loose irregular connective tissue?

Answer 11

Supports organs & blood vessels, links epithelial tissues to muscles underneath

Question 12

Composition of LICT?

Answer 12

Abundant ground substance; some collagen & elastic fibres, many different cells

Question 13

Where is dense irregular connective tissue found?

Answer 13

In joint capsules, envelops muscles, forms dermis of skin

Question 14

What if function of DICT?

Answer 14

Provides mechanical support and tensile strength as is impact resistant

Question 15

Composition of DICT?

Answer 15

Has little ground substance; abundant collagen and few cells. Dense network of (collagen) fibres in matrix

Question 16

What is basal lamina and where is it found?

Answer 16

Specialised form of ECM. Lies underneath sheets of epithelial cells

Question 17

What is function of basal lamina?

Answer 17

1. Helps to attach and anchor cells to underlying connective tissue
2. Limits contact between epithelial cells and other cell types (e.g. endothelial cells of blood vessels)

Question 18

Where is dense regular connective tissue found?

Answer 18

Ligaments (link bone to bone at joint) & tendons (connections between bones or cartilage and muscle)

Question 19

Arrangement of collagen fibres in DRCT?

Answer 19

Densely packed and arranged in parallel

Question 20

What is the predominant feature in tissues with a mechanical function (i.e. ligaments, tendon, bone)?

Answer 20

ECM

Question 21

What is the predominant feature in tissues specialised for protection?

Answer 21

Cells (blood - white blood cells)

Question 22

What is the predominant feature in tissues specialised for metabolic maintenance?

Answer 22

Cells (adipocytes, blood - red blood cells)

Question 23

What is ECM in bone called?

Answer 23

Osteoid

Question 24

What produces osteoid?

Answer 24

Osteoblasts

Question 25

What is function of osteoblasts?

Answer 25

Responsible for making new bone and repairing older bone by producing protein mixture called osteoid

Question 26

How does osteoid form bone?

Answer 26

Osteoid is mineralised with calcium to form bone

Question 27

What are osteocytes?

Answer 27

Inactive osteoblasts that have become trapped in bone that they created.

Question 28

What are osteoblasts important for?

Answer 28

Maintaining connection to other osteocytes & osteoblasts - communication within bone tissue

Question 29

What is function of osteoclasts?

Answer 29

1. Resorb bone by releasing enzymes & acids that dissolve minerals in bone and digest them 2. Creates pathway for nerves & blood vessels to travel through

Question 30

Why are older women more at risk of fractures?

Answer 30

Oestrogen levels drop which causes mineralisation of bone to drop

Question 31

Where is cartilage found?

Answer 31

Found in places where some support & structure is needed, but also some flexibility needed too

Question 32

What is ECM in cartilage produced by?

Answer 32

Specialised cells called chondroblasts

Question 33

What happens to these chondroblasts?

Answer 33

They become trapped in matrix as chondrocytes

Question 34

What are the 3 types of cartilage?

Answer 34

1. Elastic cartilage 2. Hyaline 3. Fibrocartilage

Question 35

Where is hyaline found?

Answer 35

Nose, trachea, joints, end of ribs

Question 36

Where is elastic cartilage found?

Answer 36

Ears

Question 37

Where is fibrocartilage found?

Answer 37

Intervertebral discs

Question 38

Which is least flexible cartilage and why?

Answer 38

Fibrocartilage: contains fewest chondrocytes

Question 39

Which is most flexible cartilage and why?

Answer 39

Elastic cartilage: contains most chondrocytes