Connective Tissue

connective tissue

Animal tissue that functions mainly to bind and support other tissues, having a sparse population of cells scattered through an extracellular matrix.

ground substance

unstructured material that fills the space between the cells and contains the fibers

collagen fibers

provide flexibility and strength

elastic fibers

Flexible and "stretchy" fibers that allow tissues to stretch and return to their original shape

reticular fibers

Fibers made of collagen fibers that are very thin and branched to form a net-like pattern within tissues

ground substance

unstructured material that fills the space between the cells and contains the fibers

bone tissue

Most rigid connective tissue, Internally supports body structures, very active tissue, heals much more rapidly than cartilage

areolar connective tissue

Has a large amount of empty space within; collagen fibers going in all directions; soft packaging material that cushions and protects body organs

adipose tissue

Mostly cells and little ECM; stores lipids in vacuoles

reticular tissue

Composed of net-like protein fibers; forms internal supporting framework of soft organs such as the spleen

dense regular connective tissue

Consists of collagen fibers in a parallel arrangement; resists stretching; makes up tendons and ligaments

dense irregular connective tissue

Collagen fibers arranged in many directions; is able to withstand tension exerted in many directions; makes up fibrous capsules of organs and joints and dermis of the skin

elastic connective tissue

Connective tissue made from elastic fibers that allows stretching (found in the lungs, artery walls, vocal cords)

hyaline cartilage

Cartilage type with no visible fibers and a glassy appearance of the ground substance; found on the ends of long bones, ribs, and nose

Fibrocartilage

cartilage that contains fibrous bundles of collagen, such as that of the intervertebral discs in the spinal cord.

elastic cartilage

cartilage with abundant elastic fibers; more flexible than hyaline cartilage

blood

Connective tissue made of plasma, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets.

Chondrocytes

cartilage cells

Lacunae

small cavities that contain osteocytes in bone or chondrocytes in cartilage

-cyte

suffix meaning "cell"

osteocyte

bone cell

fibrocyte

cells that produce and maintain fibrous connective tissue

osseous tissue

Latinized name for bone tissue

connective tissue proper

a grouping that contains both loose connective tissue and dense connective tissue

Histology

study of tissues

Tissues

Groups of cells with a common structure and function.

nervous tissue

A body tissue that carries electrical messages back and forth between the brain and every other part of the body.

muscle tissue

A body tissue that contracts or shortens, making body parts move.

epithelial tissue

A body tissue that covers the surfaces of the body, inside and out