II. Connective Tissue
 Supports and
2 types of cells
1. Produces and maintains
protects body parts
intercellular material
 Manufactures blood
which are composed of
cells
3 types of protein fibers
A. collagenous
Composed of widely
B. elastic
scattered cells. Lie
C. reticular
within nonliving
2. protects tissue from
material
infection
3 Types of Protein Fibers
Collagenous fibers (collagen)
Elastic fibers (elastin)
Reticular fibers (reticulum)
1. Collagenous Fibers (Collagen)
 Most abundant (10% total body
weight)
 Thick wave like strands
 Flexible but tensile (resists stretching)
 Found in tendons (connect muscle to
bones)
 Also used by body for tissue repair
*scar tissue, binds skin tightly together
2. Elastic Fibers (Elastin)
 Not as strong as collagen
 Elasticity and extensibility
* Pinch skin and it returns
to its normal shape
3. Reticular Fibers (Reticulum)
 Resists physical stress
Not abundant in
connective tissue
4 Types of Connective Tissue
Based on density of proteins)
1. Connective tissue proper
2. Cartilage
3. Bone
4. Blood-forming tissue and blood
1. Connective Tissue Proper
 Each type has a cell called fibroblast
which produces the intercellular
material
 3 types based on the fibroblast
a. Loose connective tissue
b. Adipose tissue
c. Dense connective tissue
a. Loose Connective Tissue
 Most widespread
 Structural anchor
to body parts
 Between skin and
muscles
 Surfaces of organs
Known as areolar
tissue (referring to
little area)
b. Adipose Tissue
 Fat cells called
adipocytes
 Fat stored as
triglycerides
Provides
insulation and
padding between
organs
c. Dense Connective Tissue
 Tightly packed protein
fibers
 Regular or irregular
 Regular are fibers
parallel to each other
like tendons and
ligaments (connect
bones to bones)
irregular are fibers not
parallel like deep layers
of skin (dermis) and
external wrap around
bones and cartilage.
2. Cartilage
Harder than connective tissue proper
Protein fibers in thickened gel-like ground
substance called matrix
Matrix maintained by “gristle” cells called
chondrocytes that lie in small chambers called
lacunae which get nourishment from the
perichondrium (dense connective tissue)
types of cartilage
a.Hyaline
b.Elastic
c.Fibrocartilage
a. Hyaline
 Bluish white
 Respiratory
tract
 Ends of bones
at movable
joints
Ends of ribs
b. Elastic
 Yellowish
 Framework of
ears
 End of nose
Epiglottis (small
opening to
larynx)
c. Fibrocartilage
 Thick
collagenous
fibers
 Joints like
knees
Between
intervertebral
discs (padded
joints)
QUESTIONS
Packet pp.59-60
3. Bone
 Intercellular material is mineral salts and
collagenous fibers
 Hardest and most durable of all tissue.
Dense matrix
Composed of matrix of osteocytes embedded
in lacunae (chambers). Nourished by
periosteum which is a membrane surrounding
the bone. Canaliculi are channels through
which nutrients reach bone cells
2 Types of Bone
a. Compact bone
b. Spongy bone
b. Spongy Bone
 Not dense, have
spaces called red
marrow (blood
forming tissue)
 Form thin plates
called spicules
Interior of bones
Packet p.61
4. a.) Blood-Forming Tissue and
2 types
b.) Blood
a. Blood-forming tissue
anufactures cellular
components of blood
Contains 3 components
i. Stem cells (produce
blood cells)
ii. Young blood cells
(newly formed)
iii. Protein (lacks
collagen, so is softest
connective tissue)
i. Red marrow
 Hematopoietic tissue
(initiates production of
all cells)
ii. Lymphoid tissue
 In lymph nodes
 In tonsils
 Spleen, thymus
 Iit is maturation site
of 2 types of W.B.C.
1. Lymphocytes
2. Monocytes
b. Blood
 The WBC, RBC and
platelets are called
formed elements and
are surrounded by a
fluid matrix called
plasma
 Formed elements
means the fibers of the
matrix are dissolved
proteins
Carries respiratory
gases, nutrients and
wastes
Packet p. 62
Packet pages 57-62 should now be
done
Quiz on all notes through blood