Connective tissue 2

What is connective tissue?

Tissue where cells are spread apart and surrounded by abundant extracellular matrix (ECM).

What are the 3 main parts of connective tissue?

Cells + ground substance + protein fibers.

What is the extracellular matrix (ECM)?

The material outside and around the cells that supports the tissue.

What is ground substance?

A gel-like material that fills the space between cells and fibers.

What are the 3 protein fibers?

Collagen, elastic, and reticular

What does collagen do?

Provides strength and resists stretching

What does elastic fiber do?

Allows tissue to stretch and return to its original shape.

What do reticular fibers do?

Form a thin branching network that supports soft organs.

What is a proteoglycan?

A combination of a protein core and polysaccharide branches that attracts and traps water in the ground substance.

What produces the extracellular matrix in connective tissue proper?

Fibroblasts.

What does a fibrocyte do?

It is a less active form of a fibroblast that helps maintain the tissu

What does the suffix "-blast" mean?

Forms/builds the matrix

What does the suffix "-cyte" mean?

Maintains the matrix.

What does the suffix "-clast" mean?

Breaks down the matrix.

What are the major functions of connective tissue?

Support, connect, protect, transport, store energy, cushion, and insulate.

What does adipose tissue store?

Fat/lipids for energy.

What does adipose tissue also provide?

Insulation and protection/cushioning.

What are the 3 broad categories of connective tissue?

Connective tissue proper,

supportive connective tissue,

fluid connective tissue.

What are the 2 types of connective tissue proper?

Loose and dense connective tissue.

What are examples of loose connective tissue?

Areolar, adipose, and reticular.

What are examples of dense connective tissue?

Dense regular, elastic, and dense irregular.

What are the 2 types of supportive connective tissue?

Cartilage and bone.

What are the 3 types of cartilage?

Hyaline, fibrocartilage, and elastic.

What are the 2 types of fluid connective tissue?

Blood and lymph.

What makes bone different from other connective tissues?

ts ECM is mineralized, making it hard and rigid.

What mineral gives bone hardness?

Hydroxyapatite (calcium phosphate).

What does collagen do in bone?

Helps prevent the bone from being brittle.

What are the 2 types of bone?

Compact and cancellous.

What is compact bone?

Solid bone with greater structural strength.

What is cancellous bone?

Spongy bone with spaces between trabeculae.

What are cartilage cells called?

Chondrocytes.

What are the spaces that chondrocytes occupy called?

Lacunae.

Is cartilage vascular or avascular?

Avascular — it has no blood vessels.

Why does cartilage heal slowly?

Nutrients must diffuse through the matrix because cartilage is avascular.

Where are blood cells produced?

Bone marrow, from hematopoietic stem cells.

What are the 3 main formed elements in blood?

Erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets.

What do erythrocytes do?

Transport oxygen and some carbon dioxide.

What do leukocytes do?

Defend the body against harmful microorganisms and molecules.

What do platelets do?

Help with blood clotting.

What makes blood different from most other connective tissues?

Its extracellular matrix is liquid.