Connective Tissue Types and Functions

Vocabulary flashcards covering the characteristics, fiber types, and specific categories of connective tissues based on lecture notes.

Connective tissue (CT)

Tissue that supports, binds, protects, stores, or transports; composed of cells surrounded by an extracellular matrix consisting of ground substance and protein fibers.

Epithelium

Tissue characterized by tightly packed cells and having no blood vessels.

Extracellular matrix

The non-cellular component of connective tissue composed of ground substance and protein fibers.

Cartilage

A form of connective tissue that has no blood vessels and heals slowly.

Collagen fibers

Connective tissue protein fibers that resist pulling.

Elastic fibers

Connective tissue protein fibers that stretch and recoil.

Reticular fibers

Connective tissue protein fibers that form a fine supporting network.

Areolar connective tissue

Connective tissue that provides loose packing and wraps and cushions vessels and nerves.

Adipose connective tissue

Connective tissue specialized for fat storage, insulation, and cushioning, whose cells are adipocytes.

Reticular connective tissue

Connective tissue that forms a supporting mesh in lymph nodes, spleen, and glands.

Dense regular connective tissue

Connective tissue with parallel collagen that provides strength mainly in one direction; found in tendons and ligaments.

Dense irregular connective tissue

Connective tissue with collagen running in many directions, providing strength in multiple directions; found in the reticular layer of dermis.

Elastic connective tissue

Connective tissue that facilitates stretch and recoil; found in large elastic arteries.

Blood

Fluid connective tissue specialized for transport whose fluid matrix is plasma.