4.3 Connective Tissue Supports and Protects

Flashcards for Connective Tissue Quiz

What is the major function of connective tissue?

To connect tissues and organs

Which embryonic layer do all connective tissues derive from?

Mesodermal layer

What are the three characteristic components that connective tissues typically have in common?

Cells, large amounts of amorphous ground substance, and protein fibers

What is the first connective tissue to develop in the embryo?

Mesenchyme

Which type of connective tissue is found in the umbilical cord?

Mucous connective tissue (Wharton’s jelly)

What is the most abundant cell in connective tissue proper?

Fibroblast

Which connective tissue consists mostly of fat storage cells?

Adipose tissue

What are the three main types of fibers secreted by fibroblasts?

Collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers

Which type of cartilage is the most common in the body?

Hyaline cartilage

What are the two types of fluid connective tissue?

Blood and lymph

What distinguishes dense connective tissue from loose connective tissue?

Dense connective tissue contains more collagen fibers

Which cells are considered ”fixed cells” in connective tissue proper?

Fibroblasts, adipocytes, and mesenchymal cells

What is the main difference between white and brown adipocytes?

Brown adipocytes store lipids as many droplets and have high metabolic activity

What happens when mast cells are irritated or damaged?

They release histamine, causing vasodilation and inflammatory response

What gives elastic fibers their main property of returning to original shape after being stretched?

Elastin protein

Where would you find reticular tissue in the body?

In soft organs such as liver and spleen

What is tendinitis?

The inflammation of a tendon

Why does cartilaginous tissue heal very slowly?

It is avascular (lacks blood vessels)

What makes bone the hardest connective tissue?

Mineralized ground substance containing hydroxyapatite

What is the function of the perichondrium?

It is a layer of dense irregular connective tissue that encapsulates cartilage

How does the arrangement of fibers in dense regular connective tissue differ from dense irregular connective tissue, and what functional advantage does each provide?

Regular has parallel fibers for directional strength; irregular has random fibers for multidirectional strength

What is the relationship between proteoglycans and ground substance formation?

Proteoglycans attract and trap moisture to form the viscous ground substance matrix

Why are brown adipocytes described as ”thermogenic” and where are they primarily found in adults?

They produce heat by breaking down fats; found mainly in neck and clavicular regions

What distinguishes the extracellular matrix composition of bone from cartilage?

Bone matrix is mineralized with hydroxyapatite while cartilage contains chondroitin sulfates

How do macrophages function differently when they are ”roaming” versus ”fixed”?

Roaming macrophages move rapidly by amoeboid movement; fixed macrophages are permanent tissue residents

What structural feature allows lymphatic capillaries to transport absorbed fats from the intestine?

They are extremely permeable, allowing larger molecules to enter

In what way does the microtrauma associated with tendinitis relate to the inflammatory response?

Microtrauma from repetitive motions initiates the inflammatory response

What is the functional significance of lacunae in both cartilage and bone tissue?

They are spaces occupied by chondrocytes in cartilage and osteocytes in bone

How does the vascular supply difference between bone and cartilage affect their healing capabilities?

Bone heals faster because it is highly vascularized; cartilage heals slowly because it’s avascular

What is the developmental and functional relationship between mesenchymal cells and tissue repair?

Mesenchymal cells are multipotent stem cells that provide cells needed for replacement and repair after injury