CON NECT IV E TIS SUE

Components
1. Cellular component
a. fibroblast
b. fat cells
c. white blood cell derivatives
2. Fibrous component – collagen, elastin,
reticular
3. Ground substance
 Fibroblast

- most common cell

- Single,spindle shaped , elongated
- Secretes : fibrous component
ground substance
 Fibers
• Collagen fibers
- most abundant protein in human body
- fibrillar proteins secreted by fibroblast
- amino acids : glycine, proline,
hydroxyproline
- protein unit: tropocollagen
 Reticular fibers
- Thinnest
- Network of fibers
- Argyrophilic fibers
- Type III collagen
- Location: smooth muscle , endoneurium
hematopoetic organs
parenchymal organs
 Elastic fibers
- 3 types of fibers: oxytalan, elaunin, elastin

- Location: smooth muscle cells

walls of large arteries
 Ground Substance

• Composition :
a. glycoproteins – fibronectin, laminin,
chondronectin

b. proteoglycans – core protein + GAG

 Glycosaminoglycans
• 4 groups:
a. hyaluronic acid
b. heparin and heparan sulfate
c. chondroitin sulfate
dermatan sulfate
d. keratan sulfate
PROTEOGLYCAN STRUCTURE & H2O-BINDING

Sugar side-chains of repeating

pairs (disaccharides)

H2O

SO4

}
SO4 SO4
-XL-GA-GU-GA-GU-GA-GU-GA-GU-
Core protein co
o

Side chains bear H2O -binding charged groups

which mutually repel, but cannot disperse because

of O2 bonds & anchorage to the core protein