Tension Type Connective Tissue

For Critical thinking assignment #2 and Exam 2 for Kinesiology

Tension Type Connective Tissue

Connective tissues that primarily resist tensile forces, such as tendons and ligaments.

Loose Connective Tissue

Contains much ground substance with randomly distributed cells and fibers, supports microvasculature and immune cells.

Dense Connective Tissue

Contains packed collagen fibers with limited ground substance, providing strength and support under tension.

Collagen Types

Various forms of collagen such as Type I (tendon), Type II (articular cartilage), and Type III (skin, muscle), each with unique structural roles.

Elasticity

Ability of a deformed material to return to its original shape and size when forces causing the deformation are removed.

Creep

Gradual change in shape that occurs when tissues are subjected to a slow, continuous force.

Hysteresis

Energy dissipation where the unloading curve of a tendon or ligament does not follow the loading curve, resulting in energy loss as heat.

Fibroblasts

Cells in connective tissue that produce collagen and extracellular matrix, crucial for maintaining structural integrity.

Biomechanical Properties

Characteristics that define how connective tissues respond to forces, including stretch, plasticity, and tensile strength.

Thixotropy

The ability of a material to transform from a gel to a liquid state in response to temperature changes.

Tensile Strength

The maximum stress a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking.

Stress-Strain Curve

A graphical representation showing the relationship between stress (force per unit area) and strain (deformation) in a material, illustrating its mechanical properties.

Proteoglycans

Large macromolecules in the extracellular matrix of connective tissue that attract and hold water, contributing to the tissue's turgor, hydration, and resistance to compression.

Ground Substance

The amorphous gel-like material within the extracellular matrix of connective tissue, composed of water, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins, filling spaces between cells and fibers.

Elastin

A highly elastic protein found in connective tissue, essential for tissues that require the ability to stretch and recoil, such as blood vessels and skin.

Viscoelasticity

The property of a material exhibiting both viscous (fluid-like) and elastic (solid-like) characteristics when subjected to deformation, allowing biological tissues to deform over time and dissipate energy.

Elastic Region

The initial part of the stress-strain curve where a material deforms elastically, meaning it will return to its original shape once the applied stress is removed.

Plastic Region

The section of the stress-strain curve where a material experiences permanent deformation, even after the removal of applied stress.

Yield Point

The point on the stress-strain curve where the material begins to deform plastically, meaning it will not fully return to its original shape if the stress is removed.

Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS)

The maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before necking or fracture occurs.