fluid connective tissue

fluid connective tissue

a type of connective tissue that is a watery matrix that contain cells and many types of suspended proteins. Under normal conditions they do not form insoluble fibers

fluid connective tissue characteristics

the type of connective tissue with cells suspended in a watery matrix that contains dissolved proteins

fluid connective tissue types

blood and lymph

blood

a type of fluid connective tissue that contains blood cells and cell fragments collectively called formed elements

3 types of formed elements

-red blood cells

-white blood cells

-platelets

erythrocyte

(RBC) accounts for almost half of the volume of blood

plasma

the watery matrix of blood

contains a small amount of WBC

confined within the vessels of the circulatory system

leukocytes

(WBC) important in immune system

platelets

tiny membrane enclosed packets of cytoplasm that contain enzymes and special proteins that are responsible for clotting

3 major subdivisions of extracellular fluid

-plasma

-lymph

-interstitial fluid

arteries

blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the capillaries

capillaries

thin walled exchange vessels of the circulatory system

veins

the vessels that drain the capillaries and return blood back to the heart

lymph

fluid contents of the lymphatic vessels with similar composition the the interstitial fluid

lymphatic vessels

small passageways that return lymph back to the cardiovascular system.

along the way the composition of lymph is monitored for signs of injury or infection