Organization of Tissue
Connective Tissue
Definition of Connective Tissue
 Used to connect….
 Examples include basement membrane, bone, fat and blood
 Uses include:
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Support
Structure
Storage of energy
And transport
 Composed of three parts
 Specialized cells
 Fibers (protein)
 Ground substance (fluid)
matrix
Socrative room #701439
 1. What
is your name (last, first)
 2. What are some functions of connective tissues?
 3. What components do all connective tissues
contain?
Specific Functions
 Through out body, but never exposed
 Highly vascular
 Contain sensory receptors
 Establishing structural framework
 Transporting fluids and dissolved materials
 Protecting delicate organs
 Support, surround and interconnect other tissues
 Store energy as triglycerides
 Defense from invading microorganisms
Classification of Connective Tissues
 Connective Tissue Proper
 Many types of cells, fibers in syrupy ground substance
 Loose CT (adipose)
 Dense CT (tendon)
 Fluid Connective Tissue
 Distinct populations of cells in watery matrix with dissolved
proteins
 Blood and lymph
 Supporting Connective Tissue
 Less cells, more fibers
 Cartilage and bone
Socrative continued
 4. list three types of connective tissue
 5. give 2 examples of CT proper
 6. give 2 examples of fluid CT
 7. give 2 examples of supporting CT
Connective Tissue Proper Cell Types
 Fibroblasts
 Always present
 Most abundant
 Makes many proteins
 Fibrocytes
 #2 abundance
 Source of fibers
 Collagen
 Reticular
 Elastic
 Adipocytes
 Fat cells
 Mesenchymal cells
 Stem cells; differentiate
 Found in embryonic CT
 Macrophages
 Amoeboid (engulf or eat)
 Immunity
 Mast cells
 Mobile
 Near blood vessels
 Make histamine and heparin
 Lymphocytes
 Produce antibodies
 Microphages
 Also phagocytic
 Melanocytes
 Make melanin
Fibers
 Collagen
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Long, straight, unbranched
Bundle of proteins
Flexible but strong
Found in tendons (muscle to bone) and ligaments (bone to bone)
Stronger than steel; more likely to break bone than tendon !
 Reticular
 Thinner, interwoven, network
 Resist force in many directions
 Stabilize positions of organs and vessels against changing positions and
gravity
 Elastic
 Elastin
 Wavy
 Return to position after stretching
Socrative
 8. list the three types of fibers
Loose CT
 “packing” between organs
 Cushion and stabilize
 Three types
 Areolar
 Spaces
 Least specialized
 Resilient
 Padding
 “pinched” skin
 Adipose
 Padding
 Insulation
 White fat –
 Brown fat – vascular and lots mitochondria; metabolism
 Reticular
 Spleen, liver, lymph nodes
Dense CT
 Mostly fibers
 Lots of collagenous fibers
 Divided into dense regular and dense irregular
 Regular
 Tendons and ligaments
 Irregular
 Surround flat muscles, bones and organs
 Also found in the cavities of the joints
Fluid Connective Tissue
 Blood
 Watery, fluid matrix known as plasma
 Distinct populations of cells (RBC, white and platelets)
 Dissolved proteins
 Lymph
 Forms as interstitial fluid
 Enters lymphatic vessels
 Eventually returned to large veins near the heart
 Process (vessels to interstitial to lymph and back to vessels) is
necessary for immunity and homeostasis – blood volume
Supporting CT
 Cartilage
 Chondrocytes in lacunae with matrix and fibers
 Three types (pg 129)
 Hyaline ; stiff but flexible, decrease friction – ribs, joints, larynx, nose
 Elastic; tolerates distortion – ear, epiglottis
 Fibrocartilage; resists compression – knee, intervertebral discs
 Bone
 Calcium salts make up matrix
 Collagen fibers
 Blood vessels with lacunae that contain osteocytes
Socrative
 9. in fluid CT, like blood, what is considered the ground
substance, the fibers and the cells?
 10. in supporting CT, like bone, what is considered the
ground substance, the fibers and the cells?
Membranes
 Barrier
 Epithelia + CT
 4 types
 Mucous Membranes
 Line digestive, respiratory and reproductive
 Moist, low friction, lubrication
 Serous
 Sealed
 Pericardium, viscera, thin, permeable, constantly diffusing fluids
 Cutaneous
 Thicker, waterproof and usually dry
 Synovial
 At joints
 Lubrication between bones at articulations
socrative
 11. list the 4 types of membranes
 12. Rate your understanding of CT… using a scale of 1-10;
 10 means you REALLY get it,
 lower numbers mean you do NOT understand.