A&P Connective Tissue Terms

dense regular connective tissue

Closely packed bundles of collagen fibers running in same direction - fibers regular and parallel; Great resistance to tension; Crowded between collagen fibers are fibroblasts that make fibers & ground substance; Found in tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses, and fascia

adipose tissue

Commonly called fat; contains adipocytes; Droplet of oil occupies most of adipocyte & compresses nucleus; insulates body and protects from bumps and extremes of heat & cold; Cushions individual organs and stores fat for fuel if needed

dense elastic connective tissue

Elastic fibers & fibroblasts; Allows stretching of various organs and elasticity (returns to original shape); Lungs, walls of trachea, arteries, bronchial tubes, true vocal cords, and some ligaments

loose reticular connective tissue

Made of reticular cells (resemble fibroblasts) & reticular fibers; Limited to certain sites - forms "stroma" (internal framework that supports free blood cells in lymphoid organs) & binds together smooth muscle

vascular tissue (blood)

Plasma + formed elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes); has a fluid matrix & soluble protein fibers that are only visible when clotting; Transport vehicle for cardivoascular system; Carries nutrients, wastes & respiratory gases; immunity; clotting

dense irregular connective tissue

Randomly arranged collagen fibers & few fibroblasts; provides strength in places where pulling in various directions occurs; Fascia, dermis of skin, periosteum, perichondrium, joint capsules, membrane capsules around organs, heart valves

types of loose connective tissue

adipose, areolar, reticular

edema

areolar tissue in area soaks up excess fluid when area is inflamed - area swells and becomes puffy

ligaments

attach bone to bone (formed from dense connective tissue)

tendons

attach muscle to bone (formed from dense connective tissue)

matrix of vascular tissue

blood plasma

osteocytes

bone cells

osseous tissue

bone; composed of osteocytes sitting in lacunae; Surrounded by layers of very hard matrix of calcium salts & collagen fibers; Exceptional ability to protect & support other body organs; Great strength & some flexibility; Movement, storing minerals, houses blood-forming tissue, stores lipids

avascular connective tissue with no nerve supply

cartilage

chondrocytes

cartilage cells

elastic cartilage

cartilage found in structures with elasticity; Threadlike fibers in gel matrix; Support & maintains shape; Strength & exceptional stretchability; formsEpiglottis ("lid" on larynx), auditory tubes, & supports external ear

fibrocartilage

cartilage that is highly compressible and used for support & fusion, contains collagen fibers; strongest type of cartilage; forms the cushionlike disks between the vertebrae of the spinal column, Pubic symphysis, meniscus of knee

no free surface, highly vascular, nerve supply, lots of extracellular material

characteristics of connective tissue

mucous (Wharton's jelly)

connective tissue found in the umbilical cord of the fetus

adipocytes

fat cells

elastic fibers

fiber for strength & stretching; skin, blood vessels, lungs (smaller than collagen fibers)

collagen fibers

fiber that is tough & resistant to stretching/pulling forces; bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments; most abundant protein fiber in the body

Fibroblasts

fiber-forming cells; manufacture the building blocks of the fibers

reticular fibers

fibers formed from combination of collagen + glycoproteins; support in blood vessel walls & form strong supporting network around fat cells, nerve fibers, skeletal/smooth muscle fibers; form basement membrane and framework of soft organs

protect, support, bind together tissues, transport, insulation

functions of connective tissue

matrix

ground substance + fibers; determines tissue's qualities

blast cells

immature cells that can secrete matrix and undergo mitosis

hyaline cartilage

most widespread cartilage; has abundant collagen fibers hidden by a rubbery matrix with a glassy, blue-white appearance; forms supporting structures of larynx (voice box), attaches ribs to the breastbone, and covers the ends of many bones where they form joints; Makes up the fetal skeleton & epiphyseal (growth) plates in long bones during youth

thrombocytes

platelets; formed elements of blood used for clotting

erythrocytes

red blood cells; carry oxygen and carbon dioxide

loose areolar connective tissue

tissue contains all three types of fibers, semi-fluid ground substance, several cells; Most widely distributed connective tissue; Soft, pliable - cushions and protects body organs; Universal packing tissue and connective tissue "glue"; Holds organs together and in proper positions; Reservoir of water and salts for surrounding tissues ; All cells obtain nutrients from & release wastes into this "tissue fluid"; Phagocytes scavenge for bacteria and debris and dead cells in this tissue to destroy

living cells & nonliving extracellular matrix

two basic elements of connective tissue

mesenchyme

undifferentiated connective tissue cells in embryo

leukocytes

white blood cells; immune response