Connective tissue

connective tissue characteristics

most diverse, abundant, and widely distributed tissue, designed to support, protect, and bind organs, all have cells, protein fibers, and ground substance

areolar connective tissue structure

connective tissue proper, abundant, viscous ground substance and scattered fibroblasts and many blood vessels

areolar connective tissue function

protects tissues and organs, and binds epithelia to deeper tissue

areolar connective tissue location

dermis and subcutaneous layer of skin and surrounds organs, nerves, and blood vessels

adipose connective tissue structure

connective tissue proper, closely packed adipocytes and nucleus pushed to edge of cell by large fat droplet

adipose connective tissue function

stores energy and insulates, cushions, and protects

adipose connective tissue function

stores energy and insulates, cushions, and protects

adipose connective tissue location

subcutaneous layer of skin and surrounds/ covers some organs

reticular connective tissue structure

connective tissue proper, viscous ground substance, and scattered reticular fibers, fibroblasts, and leukocytes

reticular connective tissue function

provides storm (supportive framework) to lymphatic organs

reticular connective tissue location

spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, and bone marrow

dense regular connective tissue structure

connective tissue proper, densely packed, parallel arrays of collagen fibers, fibroblasts present between layers of fibers, scarce ground substance, greatly reduced blood supply

dense regular connective tissue function

attach bone to bone (ligaments) and attach bone to muscle (tendons), and resist stress applied in one direction

dense regular connective tissue location

tendons and ligaments

dense irregular connective tissue structure

collagen fibers randomly arranged, fibroblasts in spaces amongst fibers, and more ground substance/ extensive blood supply

dense irregular connective tissue function

withstands stress applied in all directions and durable

dense irregular connective tissue location

dermis of skin, periosteum of bone, perichondrium of cartilage, and some organ capsules

elastic connective tissue structure

connective tissue proper, composed of elastic fibers and fibroblasts between fibers

elastic connective tissue function

allows for stretching and recoil

elastic connective tissue location

walls of elastic arteries, trachea and vocal cords

hyaline cartilage structure

supporting connective tissue, glassy appearing matrix, irregular arrangement of chondrocytes in lacunae, and usually covered by perichondrium

hyaline cartilage function

provides support, forms most of fetal skeleton

hyaline cartilage location

tip of nose, trachea, larynx, costal cartilage, articular ends of long bones fetal skeleton

fibrocartilage structure

supporting connective tissue, readily visible, numerous parallel collagen fibers, large chondrocytes in lacunae and no perichondrium

fibrocartilage function

resists compression and acts as a shock absorber in some joints

fibrocartilage location

intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, and menisci of knee joints

elastic cartilage structure

supporting connective tissue, abundant elastic fibers forming a weblike mesh, chondrocytes in lacunae, and perichondrium present

elastic cartilage function

maintains shape while permitting extensive flexibility

elastic cartilage location

external ear and epiglottis of larynx

bone structure

supporting connective tissue, calcified matrix has osteocytes trapped in lacunae, compact bone arranged in osteons, spongy bone is a meshwork, and different from compact bone

bone function

provides lever for body movement, supports soft structures, protects organs, stores calcium and phosphorus, spongy bone is a site for hemopoiesis

bone location

bones of the body

blood structure

fluid connective tissue, contained formed elements and dissolved proteins in liquid matrix

blood function

erythrocytes transport respiratory gasses

blood location

within blood vessels and heart, leukocytes in lymphatic structures can migrate to infected and inflamed tissues in body