CONNECTIVCONNECTIVE TISSUEE TISSUE

Connects body partsConnects body parts

Most abundant Most abundant tissue typetissue type

Widely spreadWidely spread

Made up of many Made up of many types of cellstypes of cells

Common Common CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1. 1. Blood supply:Blood supply:–Most well vascularizedMost well vascularized–Some have poor blood supply:Some have poor blood supply:

*Tendons and ligaments – *Tendons and ligaments – poorpoor

*Cartilages – avascular*Cartilages – avascular

* Heal slowly* Heal slowly

2.2. Extracellular Matrix-Extracellular Matrix- nnonliving substance onliving substance found outside cellsfound outside cells

- produced by - produced by connective tissueconnective tissue- secreted to exterior- secreted to exterior

Two Main Elements of the Two Main Elements of the MatrixMatrix

1. 1. Ground Substance:Ground Substance: –WaterWater–Adhesion proteins – glue fibers to Adhesion proteins – glue fibers to cellscells

–Large, charged polysaccharides Large, charged polysaccharides (trap water as they intertwine)(trap water as they intertwine)Less: fluidLess: fluidMore: rock-hardMore: rock-hard

2.2.FIBERSFIBERS• Collagen (white)Collagen (white)• Elastic (yellow)Elastic (yellow)• Reticular (fine Reticular (fine

collagen)collagen)

SCURVYSCURVYLoss of collagenLoss of collagenDeficiency of Vitamin C Deficiency of Vitamin C

(necessary in formation of (necessary in formation of collagen fibers)collagen fibers)

Skin sores, spongy gums, Skin sores, spongy gums, weak blood vessels, poor weak blood vessels, poor healing of woundshealing of wounds

MatrixMatrixSoft packing tissue around organsSoft packing tissue around organsBears weightBears weightAbsorb large amount of waterAbsorb large amount of waterWithstand stretching, abrasion, etcWithstand stretching, abrasion, etc Ex: Ex: Fat: mostly cells Fat: mostly cells soft soft

Bone/Cartilage: few cells, moreBone/Cartilage: few cells, more

matrix matrix extremely strong extremely strong

TYPES OF TYPES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUECONNECTIVE TISSUEFiber typeFiber typeNumber of Number of fibers in matrixfibers in matrix

BONEBONEOsseous tissueOsseous tissueBone cells sitting in lacunae Bone cells sitting in lacunae

(cavities)(cavities)Surrounded by layers of hard Surrounded by layers of hard

matrix with Ca salts and matrix with Ca salts and collagen fiberscollagen fibers

Protect and support body organsProtect and support body organs

CARTILAGECARTILAGE Less hard, more flexibleLess hard, more flexible

1.1. Elastic: elasticity (ear)Elastic: elasticity (ear)

2.2. Fibrocartilage: highly Fibrocartilage: highly compressable (disks compressable (disks between vertebrae)between vertebrae)

3. Hyaline: most 3. Hyaline: most widespreadwidespread

Collagen fibers hidden by Collagen fibers hidden by rubbery matrix with glassyrubbery matrix with glassy, , blue-white appearanceblue-white appearance

Larynx, ribs, covers ends Larynx, ribs, covers ends of bones at jointsof bones at joints

Skeleton of fetusSkeleton of fetus

Dense Connective Dense Connective TissueTissue

AKA: Dense Fibrous TissueAKA: Dense Fibrous Tissue Collagen fibers with fibroblasts in Collagen fibers with fibroblasts in

betweenbetween Stong, ropelikeStong, ropelike

– TENDONS: attach skeletal muscles TENDONS: attach skeletal muscles to boneto bone

– LIGAMENTS: connect bones to LIGAMENTS: connect bones to bones at jointsbones at joints

Medial Collateral Ligament Medial Collateral Ligament

LOOSE CONNECTIVE LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUETISSUE

SofterSofterMore cells, fewer More cells, fewer fibersfibers

3 types3 types

AREOLAR TISSUEAREOLAR TISSUE Soft, pliableSoft, pliable Cushions, protects, holds together Cushions, protects, holds together

organsorgans Lamina propria: soft layer underlying Lamina propria: soft layer underlying

all mucous membranesall mucous membranes Most of matrix appears to be empty Most of matrix appears to be empty

space because of loose and fluid naturespace because of loose and fluid nature Reservoir of salts and waterReservoir of salts and water

EdemaEdema

When a body region is When a body region is inflamed, the areolar tissue inflamed, the areolar tissue soaks up excess fluidsoaks up excess fluid

The area becomes puffyThe area becomes puffyPhagocytes scavenge Phagocytes scavenge

through this tissuethrough this tissue

ADIPOSE TISSUEADIPOSE TISSUE

Areolar tissue: fat cells Areolar tissue: fat cells predominatepredominate

Signet ring cells: bulging nucleus Signet ring cells: bulging nucleus looks like a ringlooks like a ring

Forms subcutaneous tissue Forms subcutaneous tissue beneath skinbeneath skin

Insulates: temp., organsInsulates: temp., organs fuelfuel

Reticular Connective TissueReticular Connective Tissue

Delicate network of interwoven Delicate network of interwoven reticular fibersreticular fibers

Forms STROMA (bed): internal Forms STROMA (bed): internal supporting frameworksupporting framework

Supports free blood cells in Supports free blood cells in lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow)spleen, bone marrow)

BLOODBLOOD

Blood cells surrounded by Blood cells surrounded by blood plasma (nonliving, fluid blood plasma (nonliving, fluid matrix)matrix)

‘‘Fibers’ of blood become Fibers’ of blood become visible during clottingvisible during clotting

Carries nutrients, wastes, Carries nutrients, wastes, gasesgases