Supporting Connective Tissues and Bone Structure

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the supporting connective tissues and bone structure concepts outlined in the lecture notes.

Supporting Connective Tissues: Cartilage

Specialized, resilient, and smooth, connective tissue that supports body structures, provides flexibility, and reduces friction in joints. Compose of chondrocytes within a firm gel matrix it acts as a shock absorber.

Hyaline Cartilage

A type of cartilage characterized by a translucent matrix, providing stiff but flexible support, found in various locations such as between ribs and sternum.

Articular Cartlidge

Type of hyaline Cartlidge (no perichondrium)

Lacunae

Small chambers in which chondrocytes or osteocytes are located within cartilage or bone tissue.

Cartlidge Matrix

Firm gel containing chondrin. Physical properties depend on protein, fibers in matrix, matrix prevents cellular movement.

Chondrocytes (mature Cartlidge) and chondroblasts (immature cartilage)

Cells in the cartilage matrix found in small chambers called lucunae

Perichondrium

A layer of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds some types of cartilage, providing mechanical support and protection.

Perichondrium outer fibrous layer

Dense irregular connective tissue, mechanical support, protection, and attachment

Perichondrium Inner cellular layer (chrondrogenic layer)

Where Cartlidge grows (during development) and is maintained

Avascular

Referring to tissues that lack blood vessels, such as cartilage, which limits their ability to regenerate.

Appositional Growth

A type of cartilage growth where new layers of matrix are added to the surface by new chondroblasts from the perichondrium. Causes Cartlidge to expand and widen (becomes thicker) helps to maintain the weight of an individual

Interstitial Growth

Growth of cartilage that occurs when chondrocytes divide and secrete more matrix from within. Growth and length. Mainly occurs during childhood and adolescence.

Three types of cartilage

Hyaline, elastic, and fibrous

Fibrous cartilage

The strongest type of cartilage, rich in collagen fibers, providing tensile strength. Prevents bone to bone contact, limits relative movement, resistance compression, and located in structures like intervertebral discs, pads within knee joint, between pubic bones of pelvis

Elastic Cartilage

A type of cartilage containing thread, like network elastic fibers, allowing it to maintain shape while being flexible. Found in the epiglottis and supports the external ear

The four types of specialized cells in bones

Osteocyte, osteoblast, osteogenic cell, and osteoclast

Functions of skeletal system (bone)

Support, protection, movement (with muscular system), stores minerals (calcium, phosphate), blood cell production (marrow)

Structure of bone: two types of osseous tissue

Compact bone (dense bone) and spongy bone (trabecular bone)

Compact bone (dense bone)

Dense and solid, forms the walls of bone outlining the medullary cavity, medullary cavity consist of bone marrow. Made of stacks of osteons.

Spongy bone (trabecular bone)

Open network of plates. No central canal, blood vessels weave through the trabeculae, cells receive nutrients from the canaliculi, bone marrow is present, and no osteons

Diaphysis

Shaft of a bone

Epiphysis

End of a bone

Metaphysis

Middle of shaft and end a bone

Blood vessels bone

Well vascularized, a large blood supply

Medullary cavity

Hollow cavity inside bone, filled with marrow

Ossification

Bone development and growth. Intramembranous and endochondral

Endochondral Ossification

A process of bone development where cartilage is replaced by bone tissue, typically in weight-bearing bones. Replacement of existing chondrocytes by osteoblast. Occurs in all other bones that bear weight.

Intramembranous Ossification

The process of bone formation where mesenchyme transforms directly into bone, typical for certain flat bones. Replacement of mesenchyme by osteoblasts. Forms the clavicle, mandible, flat bones of face, and skull

Osteoblasts

Immature bone cells that secrete organic components of the bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Large multinucleated cells responsible for the resorption of bone tissue.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells that maintain the bone matrix and reside in lacunae.

Bone remodeling stage one

Hematoma formation, a mass of clotted blood forms at the fracture site

Bone remodeling stage two

Break a splintered by a fibrocartilage callus, mass of connective repair tissue

Bone remodeling stage three

Bony callus formation (spongy bone)

Bone remodeling stage four

Healed fracture

Rickets

Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate deficiency. Soft., weak bones occurs in children.

Osteogenesis imperfecta

Brittle bone disease. Caused by abnormal type one collagen synthesis. Resulting in bone, fragility and susceptibility to fractures.

Achondroplasia (dwarfism)

Bones do not grow, genetic reduction of growth hormone

Gigantism

Excess growth hormone before the epiphyseal plates

Epiphyseal Plate

A layer of hyaline cartilage that allows for growth in the length of long bones during childhood and adolescence.