connective

Connective Tissue

Tissue that connects, supports, and surrounds other tissues in the body.

Mesenchyme

Embryonic connective tissue from which all connective tissues develop, derived from the mesoderm.

Extracellular Matrix

greatest volume of CT, includes protein fibers and ground substance

Collagen

A protein fiber in connective tissue known for its flexibility and high tensile strength.

Elastic Fibers

Thin fibers that allow tissues to stretch and return to their original shape, composed of elastin and fibrillin.

Reticular Fibers

Thin fibers made of type III collagen that form a network or mesh, providing support in soft tissues and organs.

Fixed Cells

Resident cells in connective tissue that are stable and long-lived, such as fibroblasts and macrophages.

Transient Cells

Wandering cells in connective tissue that migrate in response to injury or infection, including leukocytes.

Fibroblasts

Fixed cells that produce and maintain the extracellular matrix and collagen fibers.

Myofibroblasts

Specialized cells involved in wound healing, exhibiting properties of both fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, usually contains lots of myofilaments

Macrophages

Immune cells with large lysosomes that act as "vacuum cleaners," involved in phagocytosis and antigen presentation and may fuse together to form giant cell

Mast Cells

Cells that mediate inflammatory responses by releasing chemicals like histamine and heparin.

Adipose Cells

Cells that store energy in the form of fat and are clustered together in adipose tissue.

Cardinal Signs of Inflammation

Redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function that indicate an inflammatory response.

Diapedesis

white blood cells exit the bloodstream to reach sites of injury.

Chemotaxis

The movement of cells toward a chemical signal, guiding them to areas of injury or infection.

Ground Substance

component of ECM surrounding CT, consists of GAGs, proteoglycans and multi adhesive glycoproteins

GAGs (Glycosaminoglycans)

Major building blocks of ground substance

Proteoglycans

Molecules composed of GAGs and proteins that bind cells to the extracellular matrix.

Loose Connective Tissue

delicate consistency, flexible and highly vascular, containing fibroblasts and macrophages, always found alongside epithelium

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

high concentration of fibroblast and multidirectional type 1 collagen, providing strength and support.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

mainly fibroblasts and collagen fibers oriented in the same direction, providing tensile strength, found in tendons, ligaments and elastic tissue

Embryonic Connective Tissue

Includes mesenchyme and mucous connective tissue, which give rise to other connective tissues.

Reticular Connective Tissue

Tissue that forms a supportive framework (stroma) in lymphoid organs and around blood vessels.

Supporting Connective Tissue

Includes cartilage and bone, providing structure and support to the body.

vascularity and nerve supply

highly vascular except in cartilage and tendon, nerve supply except in cartilage

components of connective tissue

specialised cells and ECM

components of protein fibers in ECM

collagen, elastic and reticular fibers

heparin

blood thinner induced by mast cells

histamine

invokes & intensified inflammatory response induced by mast cells

leukotrienes

attract wandering cells, induced by mast cells

leukocytes

type of wandering cell that frequently migrates to connective tissue to induce an immune response

plasma

antibody producing cells derived from B lymphocytes

collagen

type of CT fiber, flexible, high tensile strength, made by fibroblast and is triple helix

type I collagen

most abundant, multidirectional to increase strength

type VII collagen

anchoring fibrils, U-shaped to connect tissue

GAGs examples

chondroitin sulfate, keratin sulfate, hyaluronan

examples of proteoglycan

aggrecan in cartilage, syndecan in epithelium

multiadhesive glycoprotein

binds cells through integrin receptors to form intensive matrix network