Connective Tissue

1. Connective Tissue Chapter 4.2 Human Anatomy & Physiology

2. Connective Tissue • Function: - Binds structures together - Provides support & protection - Fills spaces - Produces blood cells - Stores fat • For energy, insulation, organ protection

3. Structure: - Tissue cells are widely separated by extracellular matrix - Can be solid, semisolid, or liquid • Matrix of connective tissue determine its properties

4. Fibers of the Matrix • White fibers – contain collagen which gives the fibers flexibility and strength • Yellow fibers – contain elastin more elastic than collagen but not as strong • Reticular fibers – thin, highly branched collagenous fibers that provide support

6. 1. Fibrous Connective Tissue • Loose (areolar) connective tissue • adipose • Dense connective tissue • Regular • irregular • Reticular connective tissue

7. A. Loose (areolar) Connective Tissue • Lies between other tissues or between organs binding them • Cells made of fibroblasts – large, star-shaped cells • Contains many white fibers (strong and flexible) and yellow fibers (very elastic)

9. Adipose tissue is a type of loose connective tissue - stores fats, provides insulation - found beneath skin, around kidney & heart, breast

11. Regular Consists of parallel bundles of collagenous fibers Found in tendons & ligaments Binds organs together Irregular Bundles run in different direction Found in inner portion of skin B. Dense Connective Tissue

12. Dense Irregular Dense Regular

13. C. Reticular Connective • Has reticular cells and reticular fibers • Also called lymphatic tissue • Found in lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, and red bone marrow • Store and produce white blood cells • Part of immune system

15. 2. Cartilage • The cell (chondrocytes) lies in small chambers called lacunae • Matrix is solid yet flexible • Lacks direct blood supply, as a result, it heals slowly

16. 3 types - Hyaline cartilage - Elastic cartilage - Fibrocartilage

17. A. Hyaline Cartilage • Most common • Matrix contains fine collagenous fibers • Glassy, white, opaque • Found in the nose, ends of the long bones and ribs, rings in the trachea

19. B. Elastic Cartilage • Contains elastic and collagenous fibers • Found in the outer ear

21. C. Fibrocartilage • Matrix contains strong collagenous fibers • Function: absorbs shocks and reduces friction between joints • Found in the pads between the vertebrae and knee joints

23. 3. Bones • Most rigid of the connective tissues • Minerals and protein fibers gives bone rigidity, elasticity and strength • Two types: • Compact bone • Spongy bone

24. A. Compact Bone • Found in the outer portion of long bones • Consists of many cylindrical-shaped units called osteon

27. B. Spongy Bone • Found on ends of long bone • Contains bony bars and plates called trabeculae separated by irregular spaces • Blood cells are made within the red marrow found in the spongy bone

29. 4. Blood • Connective tissue composed of cells suspended in liquid matrix called plasma • Red blood cells (erythrocytes) – carries oxygen • White blood cells (leukocytes) – fights infection • Platelets – fragment of giant cells found in bone marrow