Pre Lab 3b: Special Connective

Tissues
 Special Connective Tissues
Tissues designated to CARTILAGE & BONES, the major skeletal
components of the body,

General Functions:
-Structural & metabolic support for other tissues and organs
throughout the body
-Mediate the exchange of nutrients, metabolites and waste
products between tissues and circulatory system (interspersed
blood and lymphatic vessels).
- Produces blood tissue (bone marrow)

AS CONNECTIVE TISSUES
- Each tissue have matrix with embedded fibers + fixed cells
Fixed Cells of Connective Tissues
Chondrocytes produce ECM in cartilage
tissue
Precursor cells - chondroblast
Osteocytes produce ECM in bone tissue
Precursor cells - osteoblast

In both tissues:
Each cell is enclosed by a lacuna.
 CARTILAGE
Chondrocytes (cells) Support cells which produces
extracellular matrix (ECM) made up of glycosaminoglycans
(GAGs):
Hyaluronic acid non-sulfated GAG
Dermatan sulfate, Heparan sulfate, Chondroitin sulfate, Keratan
sulfate sulfated forms
Devoid of blood vessels or nerves
Perichondrium outer boundary made of dense CT
surrounding the cartilage tissue. Contains inactive (back up
cells) fibrocytes.
Fibers varying proportions in the ECM made up of either
collagen and elastin, which defines the main types of cartilage:
HYALINE
ELASTIC
FIBROCARTILAGE
 THE CARTILAGE TISSUES
Hyaline Cartilage occurs with bones or discrete
pieces; translucent white (abundant collagen &
ground substance with similar refractive
properties)
BLUE CARTILAGE hyaluronic acid (basic backbone of
glycosaminoglycans); FETAL CARTILAGE the basic
cartilage scaffold for bone formation.
Elastic Cartilage abundant elastic fibers in the
ECM
Fibrocartilage dense collagen fibers alternating
with hyaline cartilage matrix.
SPECIALIZED CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Cartilage Tissue: Hyaline
Description: Consists of a bluish white and shiny ground
substance with fine collagen fibers; contains
numerous chondrocytes; most abundant type
of cartilage
Location: Trachea; Ends of long bones, anterior ends of ribs, nose
parts of larynx, bronchi, bronchial tubes,
and embryonic skeleton.
Function: Provides smooth surfaces for movement at joints,
flexibility and support; bone formation (endochondral)
Interstitial growth in chondrocytes
Forms isogenous
group of
chondrocytes
Each chondrocyte is
contained in a
lacunae with matrix
 Perichondrium

Ground
substance
Chondrocytes

Hyaline cartilage of the trachea, 100x

Fibrocartilage

Description: Consists of chondrocytes

scattered among bundles of collagen fibers
within matrix. The fibers make the collagen
dense and very resistant to stretching.

Location: Intervertebral discs (discs

between vertebrae); Pubic symphysis (point
where hipbones join anteriorly), menisci
(cartilage pads) of knee.

Function: Support and fusion

Chondrocytes Collagen fibers

Fibrocartilage of the intervertebral disk

Elastic cartilage

Description: Consists of chondrocytes located in a threadlike

network of elastic fibers within matrix.

Location: Epiglottis of larynx, external ear (auricle), and auditory

(Eustachian) tube.

Function: Gives support and maintains shape

 BONE TISSUES
Rigid CT infiltrated with minerals
Collagen type I
Bone cells : Osteocytes
PERIOSTEUM homologous to perichondrium; made of
dense CT (outer boundary); ENDOSTEUM (inner boundary)
both have OSTEOGENIC Potential
MARROW CAVITY within the bone structure faces
endosteum (myeloid tissue)
(+) blood vessels in haversian system(OSTEON) and
branches to canaliculi
Classified based on spaces within it: COMPACT (dense) or
CANCELLOUS (trabecular)
 Osteoblast young bone
Bone tissue cells
Osteocyte mature
Osteoclast bone
resorption

Bone growth (ossification)

Endochondral ossification
requires cartilage model
Appositional growth
calcium & mineral
deposition
Ex: Long Bones
Intramembranous
ossification no cartilage
model only a collagenous
scaffold and also ossifies.
Ex: Flat bones of skull or
Diplo
 In mature bone, osteocytes and their
processes reside inside spaces
called lacunae and canaliculi, respectively.
 Peripheral bone (compact)

Periosteum

Marrow
cavities with
Endosteum hemopoeitic
tissues

Bony
trabecula

Spongy or cancellous bone, 1000x