Connective Tissue Flashcards

1
Q

What is the structure/function of connective tissue?

A

Tissue that supports, protects, and gives structure to other tissues and organs.

All share specialized cells and ECM

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2
Q

What are the functions of connective tissue?

A
Structural framework for the body
Transport fluids/dissolved materials 
Protect/insulate organs
Support/connect other tissues
Store energy as triglycerides
Immune response
Compartmentalize structures
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3
Q

Where is connective tissue located?

A

Bone, cartilage, fat, blood, lymph

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4
Q

What is the extracellular matrix made of?

A

Ground substance, connective tissue fibers, and extracellular adhesion molecules

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5
Q

What is ground substance made of?

A

Extracellular fluid, proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid

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6
Q

What are extracellular adhesion molecules made of?

A

Fibronectin (connective tissue proper), osteonectin (bone), chondronectin (cartilage)

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7
Q

What are connective tissue fibers made of?

A

Collagen fibers, elastic fibers, reticular fibers

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8
Q

Describe collagen fibers

A

Long, straight, unbranched, strong fibers made of different types of collagen.

Most common fiber in connective tissue proper

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9
Q

Collagen

A

The most abundant protein in the body

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10
Q

Where are collagen fibers found?

A

Tendons and ligaments

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11
Q

Describe reticular fibers

A

Fine, branched fibers continuous with collagen fibers.

Forms stroma

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12
Q

Stroma

A

A network of interwoven fibers in reticular connective tissue

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13
Q

Where are reticular fibers found?

A

Spleen, liver, lymph nodes, red bone marrow

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14
Q

Describe elastic fibers

A

Small, strong, branched, flexible fibers made of elastin and fibrillin

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15
Q

Where are elastic fibers found?

A

Elastic ligaments of vertebrae, skin, lungs, walls of blood vessels

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16
Q

Fibroblasts

A

Most abundant cell type found in all connective tissue proper.

Large, flat cells with branching processes.
SECRETE protein fibers and some components of the ground substance

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17
Q

Fibrocytes

A

The second most abundant cell type found in all connective tissue proper.

MAINTAINS the fibers of connective tissue proper

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18
Q

Adipocytes

A

Fat cells, each storing a single fat droplet

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19
Q

Mesenchymal cells

A

Stem cells that respond to injury or infection

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20
Q

What do mesenchymal cells differentiate into?

A

Fibroblasts, chondoblasts, osteoblasts, hemocytoblasts, macrophages

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21
Q

Mast cells

A

Stimulate inflammation after injury or infection

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22
Q

Histamine

A

Inflammatory agent

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23
Q

Heparin

A

Anticoagulant agent (prevents blood clots)

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24
Q

Macrophages

A

Large, amoeba-like cells of the immune system that eat pathogens and damaged cells

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25
What are the two subtypes of macrophages?
``` Fixed macrophages (stay in tissue) Free macrophages (migrate) ```
26
What are the three types of mature connective tissues?
Connective tissue proper, fluid connective tissue, supporting connective tissue
27
Characteristics of connective tissue proper
1. Many types of cells and EC fibers 2. Viscous ground substance 3. Variety (loose & dense) based on number of cell types present, and proportions of connective tissue fibers to ground substance
28
Characteristics of supporting connective tissues
1. Less diverse cell population 2. Gelatinous or calcified ground substance with densely packed connective tissue fibers 3. Provides structural strength and support
29
What are the two types of connective tissue proper?
Loose and dense
30
Characteristics of loose connective tissue
“Packing materials” of the body that fill spaces between organs. More ground substance than connective tissue fibers.
31
What are the three types of loose connective tissue?
Areolar, adipose, and reticular tissues
32
What is the structure/characteristics of areolar tissue?
Open framework of collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers. Least specialized; most diverse cell population. Viscous ground substance absorbs shocks.
33
What is the function of areolar tissue?
Loose packing, support, and nourishment
34
Where is areolar tissue located?
Directly deep to epithelial basement membrane. Packing between glands, muscles, and nerves.
35
What is the structure/characteristics of adipose tissue?
Contains many adipocytes (fat cells) with a single lipid droplet inside
36
What is the function of adipose tissue?
Provide cushioning/protection, shock absorption, thermal insulation, energy storage,
37
Where is adipose tissue located?
Deep to the skin Hypodermis
38
What is the structure/characteristics of reticular tissue?
Supportive framework forming a 3D network (stroma)
39
What is the function of reticular tissue?
Provides supportive framework Forms stroma
40
Where is reticular tissue located?
Spleen, liver, lymph nodes, red bone marrow
41
Characteristics of dense connective tissue
Fills nearly all extracellular space. More connective tissue fibers than ground substance
42
What are the two types of dense connective tissue?
Dense regular and dense irregular Both have collagenous and elastic subtypes.
43
What is the structure of dense regular collagenous tissue?
Tightly packed, parallel collagen fibers
44
What is the function of dense regular collagenous tissue?
Withstand pulling forces in direction of fiber orientation, holding
45
Where is dense regular collagenous tissue located?
Tendons (muscle to bone) and ligaments (bone to bone)
46
What is the structure of dense regular elastic tissue?
Tightly packed, parallel bundles of collagen and elastic fibers
47
What is the function of dense regular elastic tissue?
Stretching and recoil, with strength in direction of fiber orientation
48
Where is dense regular elastic tissue located?
Vocal folds, elastic ligaments between vertebrae, dorsal aspect of the neck
49
What is the structure of dense irregular collagenous tissue?
Multi-directional bundles of collagen fibers
50
What is the function of dense irregular collagenous tissue?
Withstand stretching, holding
51
Where is dense irregular collagenous tissue located?
Sheaths, most of the dermis of the skin, organ capsules, outer covering of body tubes
52
What is the structure of dense irregular elastic tissue?
Multi-directional bundles of collagen and elastic fibers
53
What is the function of dense irregular elastic tissue?
Strength, stretching, recoil in several directions
54
Where is dense irregular elastic tissue located?
Elastic arteries
54
Characteristics of cartilage
Cartilage cells in an extensive/rigid matrix surrounded by perichondrium. Provides shock absorption and protection. Gelatinous ground substance due to abundant proteoglycans. Contains no blood vessels (avascular) ECM: collagen/elastic fibers, proteoglycans, chondronectin
55
What are the two types of supporting connective tissue?
Cartilage and bone
56
Chondrocytes
Cartilage cells that are completely surrounded by lacunae
57
Lacunae
The space surrounding a chondrocyte
58
Perichondrium
The dense irregular layer of connective tissue surrounding cartilage
59
What is the difference between the outer layer and inner layer of the perichondrium & periosteum?
Outer layer: dense irregular collagenous connective tissue; for strength, protection and attachment to other structures Inner layer: cellular layer; for growth and maintenance
60
Interstitial growth
Inner cartilage growth by mitosis
61
Appositional growth
Growth/thickening at the cartilage surface
62
What are the three types of cartilage?
Hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage
63
What is the structure/characteristics of hyaline cartilage?
Most common type Collagen fibers in the matrix are flexible, packed, evenly dispersed
64
What is the function of hyaline cartilage?
Provide stiff but flexible support, reduce friction between boney surfaces, resist compression, allow growth of long bones
65
Where is hyaline cartilage located?
Between tips of ribs and bones of sternum, covering bone surfaces at synovial joints, supporting larynx/trachea/bronchi, nasal septum
66
What is the structure/characteristics of elastic cartilage?
Contains numerous elastic fibers
67
What is the function of elastic cartilage?
Provide support, returns to original state after distortion
68
Where is elastic cartilage located?
Top of ear, epiglottis, auditory canal, larynx
69
What is the structure/characteristics of fibrocartilage?
Matrix contains durable/tough/interwoven collagen fibers. Contains little ground substance. Strongest type of cartilage.
70
What is the function of fibrocartilage?
Resist compression, prevents bone to bone contact, limits movement, absorb shock, connects structures
71
Where is fibrocartilage located?
Knee joint, pubic bones, intervertebral discs
72
Characteristics of bone (osseous tissue)
Calcified ECM, made of calcium salts and mineral deposits. Contains blood vessels (vascularized). Supports weight, resists shattering.
73
Osteocytes
Bone cells surrounded by lacunae
75
Periosteum
The dense irregular layer of connective tissue surrounding bone. Has same inner/outer layer as perichondrium.
76
Characteristics of fluid connective tissue
1. Distinct population of cells 2. Fluid ground substance that contains dissolved proteins 3. Transports substances between body parts
77
What are the two types of fluid connective tissue?
Blood and lymph
78
What are the formed elements of blood?
Red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets
79
Platelets
Fragments of hemopoietic cells that function in the clotting process
80
Characteristics of lymph
Forms as interstitial fluid and enters lymphatic vessels. Contains cells of the immune system.