Connective Tissue

Connective Tissue

A type of tissue that supports, binds, and protects other tissues and organs in the body.

Matrix

The extracellular fibers and fluid that surround cells in connective tissue.

Connective Tissue Proper

A category of connective tissue with various cell types and extracellular fibers in a syrupy ground substance.

Loose Connective Tissue

A type of connective tissue proper characterized by a loose, open framework of fibers.

Areolar Tissue

The most common type of connective tissue proper, serving as packing material in the body.

Adipose Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue that stores fat and is found deep to the skin.

Reticular Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue that provides support and forms a network in organs like the liver and spleen.

Dense Connective Tissue

A type of connective tissue where fibers are densely packed.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Type of dense connective tissue proper fiber that if found in tendons and ligaments, characterized by parallel collagen fibers.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

type of dense connective tissue proper fiber that provides strength and support, found in areas like the dermis and covering organs.

Elastic Connective Tissue

type of dense connective tissue proper fiber that contains more elastic fibers than collagen, providing resilience and flexibility.

Fixed Cells

Stationary cells in connective tissue that function in maintenance and repair.

Wandering Cells

Mobile cells in connective tissue that function in defense and repair.

Fluid Connective Tissue

A type of connective tissue with distinctive populations of cells suspended in a watery matrix and contain dissolved proteins

Blood

A fluid connective tissue that exchanges water and solutes between plasma and interstitial fluid

Lymph

A fluid connective tissue that maintains solute and blood levels and alerts the immune system of infections.

Cartilage

A type of supporting connective tissue with a soft, rubbery matrix.

Elastic Cartilage

Type of cartilage that offers increased flexibility, found in the external ear and other small structures

Bone

A solid connective tissue with a crystalline matrix, providing strength and support.

Membranes

Structures that line or cover body surfaces, consisting of epithelium supported by connective tissue.

Mucous Membranes

Type of membrane that lines organs that communicate with the exterior and must remain moist in order to facilitate movement, absorption, and secretion

Loose and Dense

The 2 types of connective tissue proper

areolar, adipose, and reticular

The 3 types of loose connective tissue proper

Dense regular, dense irregular, and elastic

the 3 types of dense connective tissue proper

extracellular protein fibers, viscous ground substance, and cells

The 3 components of connective tissue proper

reticular, collagen, and elastic

The 3 types of extracellular protein fibers

melanocytes

Type of fixed connective tissue proper cell that synthesizes melanin pigment

Mast cells

type of fixed connective tissue proper cell that stimulates inflammation and mobilizes defense

fixed macrophages

Type of fixed connective tissue proper cell that engulfs cell debris and pathogens

fibroblasts

type of fixed connective tissue proper cell that synthesizes extracellular fibers

adipocytes

type of fixed connective tissue proper cell that stores lipid reserves

melanocytes, mast cells, fixed macrophages, fibroblasts, and adipocytes

The 5 types of fixed connective tissue proper cells

plasma cells, free macrophages, mesenchymal cells, neutrophils/eosinophils, and lymphocytes

The 5 types of wandering connective tissue proper cells

plasma cells

Type of wandering connective tissue proper cell with immune cell producing antibodies

free macrophages

type of wandering connective tissue proper cell that engulfs debris and pathogens

mesenchymal cells

type of wandering connective tissue proper cell - stem cells that aid tissue repair

neutrophils/eosinophils

type of wandering connective tissue proper cell - phagocytic blood cells

lymphocytes

type of wandering connective tissue proper cell — immune system cells

Elastic

Type of dense connective tissue proper fiber that is found between vertebrae, in walls of large blood vessels, and erectile tissues of the penis

Reticular fibers

Type of extracellular protein fiber that has a strong and firm branching network

Collagen fibers

Type of extracellular protein fiber that is thick and very strong

Elastic fibers

Type of extracellular protein fiber that is slender and very stretchy

reticular, collagen, and elastic

the 3 types of extracellular protein fibers

viscous ground substance

Component of connective tissue proper that viscous due to the presence of proeoglycans and glycoproteins

fixed and wandering

the two classes of cells in connective tissue proper

Plasma and formed elements

The 2 components of blood

red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets

the 3 types of formed elements (cells and cell fragments) in blood

red blood cells

The component of blood that transports oxygen

platelets

the component of blood that controls the clotting response

monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils/neutrophils, and basophils

the 4 types of white blood cells

monocytes

Type of white blood cell — Large phagocytes

lymphocytes

Types of white blood cell - uncommon in blood

eosinophils/neutrophils

type of white blood cell - small phagocytes

basophils

type of white blood cell - promotes inflammation

Lymph

Type of fluid connective tissue that is collected from interstitial fluid, and returned to the blood at large veins near the heart

Lymph and Cells

The 2 components of lymph

Supporting connective tissues

Type of connective tissue with a less diverse cell population, and matrix with very densely packed fibers

supporting connective tissues

type of connective tissue that protects soft tissues and supports the weight of part or all of the body

Cartilage and Bone

The 2 types of supporting connective tissue

perichondrium

Part that sets cartilage apart from surrounding tissues

Outer layer

Layer of the perichondrium that provides mechanical support, protection, and attachment

Inner Cellular layer

Layer of the perichondrium that houses cartilage growth and maintenance

chondrocytes

The only cells in the cartilage matrix

Hyaline cartilage

Type of cartilage found between ribs and sternum, covering bones in mobile joints, certain areas of respiratory system

hyaline cartilage

type of cartilage that provides stiff but flexible support and reduces friction

fibrous cartilage

Type of cartilage that is found in the knee joint, between pubic bones, in intervertebral discs

fibrous cartilage

type of cartilage that resists compression, prevents bone to bone contact, and limits relative movement

Appositional and interstitial

The 2 types of cartilage growth

appositional growth

Type of cartilage growth where the cartilage enlarges via the addition of cartilage to the outer surface

interstitial growth

type of cartilage growth where the cartilage expands from within

Osseous Tissue

Bone tissue name

calcium salt

Type of salt that makes up 2/3 of the bone matrix

provide strength

Purpose of calcium salts in bones

Spongy and compact

The 2 types of bone in long bone structure

Spongy bone

type of bone tissue that lines the internal cavity of the bone

compact bone

type of bone tissue that makes up the outer layer of the bone

periosteum

part that surrounds the bone

Canaliculi

The little canals that connect osteocytes

Osteons

Term for layers of bone that are organized in concentric layers

membranes

Type of connective tissue that lines or covers body surfaces

Membranes

Type of connective tissue that consists of epithelium supported by connective tissue

Mucous, serous, cutaneous, and synovial

The 4 types of membranes

Mucous Membranes

Type of membrane that lines organs that communicate to the exterior, and is supported by areolar connective tissue

Serous membranes

Type of membrane that is delicate and never connected to the exterior — ex. mesothelium

Pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium

Three line subdivisions of ventral body cavity

cutaneous membrane

Type of membrane that covers the surfaces of the body

synovial membranes

type of membrane that lines mobile joint cavities

fasciae

Type of connective tissue that layers and wraps around organs

superficial, deep, and subserous

the 3 types of fasciae

superficial fascia

type of fascia that is under the skin and consists of areolar and adipose tissue

deep fascia

type of fascia that consists of dense irregular connective tissues - is continuous with capsules, ligaments, and other connective tissue structures

subserous fascia

type of fascia that consists entirely of areolar tissue - exists between serous membranes and deep fascia