CONNECTIVE
TISSUE
Connects body parts
Most
type
abundant tissue
Widely
Made
spread
up of many
types of cells
Common Characteristics
1.
Blood supply:
–Most well vascularized
–Some have poor blood supply:
*Tendons and ligaments – poor
*Cartilages – avascular
* Heal slowly
2. Extracellular Matrixnonliving substance found
outside cells
- produced by connective
tissue
- secreted to exterior
Two Main Elements of the Matrix
1.
Ground Substance:
–Water
–Adhesion proteins – glue fibers
to cells
–Large, charged polysaccharides
(trap water as they intertwine)
Less: fluid
More: rock-hard
2.FIBERS
• Collagen (white)
• Elastic (yellow)
• Reticular (fine
collagen)
SCURVY
 Loss
of collagen
 Deficiency of Vitamin C
(necessary in formation of
collagen fibers)
 Skin sores, spongy gums, weak
blood vessels, poor healing of
wounds
Matrix
 Soft
packing tissue around organs
 Bears weight
 Absorb large amount of water
 Withstand stretching, abrasion,
etc

Ex: Fat: mostly cells  soft
Bone/Cartilage: few cells, more
matrix  extremely strong
TYPES OF CONNECTIVE
TISSUE
Fiber
type
Number of fibers
in matrix
BONE
 Osseous
tissue
 Bone cells sitting in lacunae
(cavities)
 Surrounded by layers of hard
matrix with Ca salts and collagen
fibers
 Protect and support body organs
CARTILAGE
Less hard, more flexible
1. Elastic: elasticity (ear)
2. Fibrocartilage: highly
compressable (disks
between vertebrae)

3. Hyaline: most widespread
Collagen
fibers hidden by
rubbery matrix with glassy,
blue-white appearance
Larynx, ribs, covers ends of
bones at joints
Skeleton of fetus
Dense Connective Tissue
 AKA:
Dense Fibrous Tissue
 Collagen fibers with fibroblasts in
between
 Stong, ropelike
– TENDONS: attach skeletal muscles to
bone
– LIGAMENTS: connect bones to bones at
joints
Medial Collateral Ligament
LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Softer
More
cells, fewer fibers
3 types
AREOLAR TISSUE
 Soft,
pliable
 Cushions, protects, holds together
organs
 Lamina propria: soft layer underlying
all mucous membranes
 Most of matrix appears to be empty
space because of loose and fluid
nature
 Reservoir of salts and water
Edema
When
a body region is
inflamed, the areolar tissue
soaks up excess fluid
The area becomes puffy
Phagocytes scavenge through
this tissue
ADIPOSE TISSUE
 Areolar
tissue: fat cells predominate
 Signet ring cells: bulging nucleus
looks like a ring
 Forms subcutaneous tissue beneath
skin
 Insulates: temp., organs
 fuel
Reticular Connective Tissue
 Delicate
network of interwoven
reticular fibers
 Forms STROMA (bed): internal
supporting framework
 Supports free blood cells in lymphoid
organs (lymph nodes, spleen, bone
marrow)
BLOOD
 Blood
cells surrounded by blood
plasma (nonliving, fluid matrix)
 ‘Fibers’ of blood become visible
during clotting
 Carries nutrients, wastes, gases