-CONNECTIVE TISSUES- that invade the body.
Specialized fluid
- From the name itself, one of the major
functions of connective tissues is to
support and connect each tissue and
organs.
- Connective Tissues are also dispersed in
a matrix unlike epithelial tissues which
are closely packed together.
MATRIX
- Typically, the matrix contains a
significant amount of extracellular
material formed by the cells of the
connective tissue that are embedded in it.
In the functioning of this tissue, the
matrix plays a major role. The main
component of the matrix is a ground
substance frequently crisscrossed by
protein fibers. Normally, this ground
material is a fluid, but, as in bones, it can
also be mineralized and solid. Connective
tissues come in a wide range of forms, yet
they typically have three characteristics
in common.
THREE CHARACTERISTIC
COMPONENTS
1. Cells
2. Large amounts of amorphous ground
substance
3. Protein Fibers
FUNCTIONS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE
- The Connective Tissues perform many
functions in our body and one of which is
supporting and connecting other tissues.
- Another major function of connective
tissue, is protection, in the form of fibrous
capsules and bones that protect delicate
organs and the skeletal system.
- In connective tissue, specialized cells
protect the body from microorganisms
connective tissues, such as blood and
lymph, ensure the transfer of fluid,
nutrients, waste, and chemical
messengers.
EMBRYONIC CONNECTIVE TISSUE
- All connective tissues derive from the
mesodermal layer of the embryo
- Mesenchyme: is the first connective
tissue to develop in the embryo.
Mesenchyme is the stem cell line from
which all connective tissues are later
derived.
- Clusters of mesenchymal cells are
scattered throughout adult tissue and
supply the cells needed for replacement
and repair after a connective tissue injury.
- Mucous Connective Tissue: also called
as Wharton’s jelly. It’s a second type of
embryonic connective tissue that are
formed in the umbilical cord. This tissue
is no longer present after birth, leaving
only scattered mesenchymal cells
throughout the body.
CLASSIFICATION OF CONNECTIVE
TISSUES
1. Connective Tissue Proper
2. Supportive Connective Tissue
3. Fluid Connective Tissue
- These three broad categories of
connective tissue are classified according
to the characteristics of their ground
substance and the types of fibers found
within the matrix
Connective Tissue Examples Adipocytes
- These are the cells that store lipids as
C.T.P. S.C.T. F.C.T.
droplets that fill most of the cytoplasm
LOOSE CARTILAGE
- Areolar - Hyaline BLOOD Two Types of Adipocytes: White and
- Adipose - Brown
Fibrocartilage - Brown Adipocytes store lipids as
- Reticular - Elastic many droplets, and have high metabolic
activity.
DENSE BONES - White Adipocytes store lipids as a
- Regular - Compact LYMPH single large drop and are metabolically
Elastic Bone less active.
- Irregular - Cancellous
Elastic Bone Mesenchymal Cell
- The mesenchymal cell is a multipotent
adult stem cell. These cells can
1. CONNECTIVE TISSUE PROPER
differentiate into any type of connective
- In all connective tissue, the fibroblasts tissue cells required for damaged tissue
are properly present. The fixed cells are to be repaired and healed.
fibrocytes, adipocytes, and mesenchymal
Macrophage Cell
cells, indicating that they reside inside the
- This is a large cell derived from a type
connective tissue. In response to chemical
of blood cell, called monocyte which
signals, other cells move in and out of the
enters the connective tissue matrix from
connective tissue. Macrophages, mast
the blood vessels. The macrophage cells
cells, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and
are an essential component of the
phagocytic cells are properly located in
immune system. When stimulated,
connective tissue, but are primarily part
macrophages release cytokines, small
of the body's protective immune system.
proteins that act as chemical messengers.
CELL TYPES - Cytokines recruit other cells of the
immune system to contaminated sites and
Fibroblast
stimulate their activities. Roaming, or
- This is the most abundant cell in
free, macrophages move quickly through
connective tissue proper. It secretes
the movement of amoeboid, swallowing
polysaccharides and proteins that
infectious agents and cellular debris.
combines extra-cellular fluids to produce
Fixed macrophages, in contrast, are
a viscous ground substance that, with
permanent residents of their tissues.
embedded fibrous proteins, forms the
extra-cellular matrix. Mast Cell
- Fibrocyte, a less active form of - Found in connective tissue proper, the
fibroblast, is the second most common mast cell has cytoplasmic granules. These
cell type in connective tissue proper. granules contain the chemical signals
histamine and heparin.
- Mast cells release histamine, an
inflammatory mediator, when irritated or
damaged, which causes vasodilation and
increased blood flow at an injury or
infection site, along with itching, swelling,
and redness that you recognize as an
allergic reaction.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE FIBERS AND
GROUND SUBSTANCES
GROUND SUBSTANCE
- Connective tissue’s component
between the cells and fibers.
- Mostly fluid.
- Supports the cell, binds, stores water
and provides a medium for exchange of
substances.
FIBERS
- Three main types of fibers are secreted
by fibroblasts: collagen fibers, elastic
fibers, and reticular fibers.
- They function together to strengthen
and support connective tissue.
Three Types of Fiber
1. Collagen Fiber
- Made from fibrous protein subunits
linked together to form a long and
straight fiber.
- Hold connective tissues together.
- Consist of collagen, the most abundant
protein in the body, representing about
25%.
- Found in most types of connective
tissues, especially bone, cartilage,
tendons, and ligaments.
2. Elastic Fibers
- Contains the protein elastin along with
lesser amounts of other proteins and
glycoproteins.
- Can be stretched up to 150% of their
relaxed length without breaking.
- Have the ability to return to their
original shape after being stretched, a
property called elasticity.
- Prominent in elastic tissues found in
skin and the elastic ligaments of the
vertebral column.
3. Reticular Fibers
- Formed from the same protein subunits
as collagen fibers.
- Fibers are narrow and are arrayed in a
branching network.
- Provide support and strength.
- Most abundant in the reticular tissue of
soft organs, such as liver and spleen.
LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
- is found between many organs where it
acts both to absorb shock and bind tissues
together.
- allows water, salts, and various
nutrients to diffuse through to adjacent or
imbedded cells and tissues.
Adipose tissue
- consists mostly of fat storage cells, with
little extracellular matrix
I. White Adipose Tissue
- Is the most abundant
- It can appear yellow because of the
carotene and related pigments from plant
foods
- Can be found protecting the kidneys and
cushioning the back of the eye
- White fat: contributes mostly to lipid
storage and can serve as insulation from
cold temperatures and mechanical
injuries
II. Brown Adipose Tissue
- is thermogenic, meaning that as it
breaks down fats, it releases metabolic
heat, rather than producing ATP
- is more common in infants, thus the
term “baby fat”
- in adults, there is a reduced amount of
brown fat. Found mainly in the in the
neck and clavicular regions of the body.
- the many mitochondria in the cytoplasm
of this tissue explains its efficiency at
metabolizing stored fat
Areolar Tissue
- it contains all the cell types and fibers
previously described and is distributed in
a random, web-like fashion
- it fills the spaces between muscle fibers,
surrounds blood and lymph vessels, and
supports organs in the abdominal cavity
- it also underlies most epithelia and
represents the connective tissue
component of epithelial membranes
Reticular Tissue
- is a mesh-like, supportive framework for
soft organs such as lymphatic tissue, the
spleen, and the liver
- Reticular cells: produce the reticular
fibers that form the network onto which
other cells attach.
DENSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
- It contains more collagen fibers than
does loose connective tissue.
- As a consequence, it displays greater
resistance to stretching
- Provides tensile strength, elasticity, and
protection.
Dense Connective Tissue Bones
 Regular Elastic
 Irregular Elastic
 Compact bone
 Cancellous bone
 Lymph
Two Major Categories of Dense
Connective Tissue
Regular Dense Connective Tissue -
parallel to each other, enhancing tensile
strength and resistance to stretching in
the direction of the fiber orientations.
- It contains elastin fibers allowing the
ligament to return to its original length
after stretching
- The ligaments in the vocal folds and
between the vertebrae in the vertebral
column are elastic.
Examples:
- Ligaments (Take note, NOT ALL
ligaments are parallel)
- Tendons
Irregular Dense Connective Tissue - the
direction of the fibers is RANDOM.
- The tissue gives greater strength in all
directions and less strength in one
particular direction
- In some tissues, fibers crisscross and
form a mesh.
- In other tissues, stretching in several
directions is achieved by alternating
layers where fibers run in the same
orientation in each layer, and it is the
layers themselves that are stacked at an
angle.
- The Dermis of the skin is an example of
irregular dense connective tissue in
collagen fibers.
- Dense irregular elastic tissues give
arterial walls the strength and the ability
to regain the original shape after
stretching
 2. SUPPORTIVE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
- Provide structure and strength to the
body and protect soft tissues.
- Allow the body to maintain its posture
and protect internal organs.
- A few distinct cell types and densely
packed fibers in a matrix characterize
these tissues.
- In bone, the matrix is rigid and
described as calcified because of the
deposited calcium salts.
Two Major forms of Supportive
Connective tissue
 Cartilage
 Bone
Cartilage
- Distinctive appearance of cartilage is
due to polysaccharides called chondroitin
sulfates, which bind with ground
substance proteins to form proteoglycans.
- Embedded within the cartilage matrix
are chondrocytes or cartilage cells, and
the space they occupy is called lacunae
- A layer of dense irregular connective
tissue, the perichondrium, encapsulates
the cartilage. - Cartilaginous tissue is
avascular, thus all nutrients need to
diffuse through the matrix to reach the
chondrocytes.
Three Main Types of Cartilage Tissue
1. Hyaline Cartilage - the most common
type of cartilage in the body, consists of
short and dispersed collagen fibers and
contains large amounts of proteoglycans.
2. Fibrocartilage - is tough because it has
thick bundles of collagen fibers dispersed
through its matrix.
3. Elastic Cartilage - contains elastic
fibers as well as collagen and
proteoglycans
- Gives rigid support as well as elasticity
- The external ear contains elastic
cartilage
Bone
- is the hardest connective tissue.
- A highly vascularized tissue
- Bone tissue can recover from injuries in
a relatively short time
- It provides protection to internal organs
and supports the body.
- Bone’s rigid extracellular matrix
contains mostly collagen fibers embedded
in a mineralized ground substance
containing hydroxyapatite, a form of
calcium phosphate
- Both components of the matrix, organic
and inorganic, contribute to the unusual
properties of bone.
- Without collagen, bones would be brittle
and shatter easily.
- Without mineral crystals, bones would
flex and provide little support.
Osteocytes - are bone cells like
chondrocytes and are located within
lacunae.
Cancellous bone - a sponge-like
structure under the microscope
containing empty spaces between
trabeculae, or arches of bone proper. It is
lighter than compact bone and found in
the interior of some bones and at the end
of long bones. It shows that a transverse
tissue from long bone pictures a typical
arrangement of osteocytes in concentric
circles around a central canal.
Compact bone - is solid and has greater
structural strength.
 3. FLUID CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Blood Tissue
- Blood has an extracellular matrix called
blood plasma and formed elements.
 Blood plasma
- Pale yellow fluid consists of
water and other dissolved
substances nutrients, wastes,
enzymes, etc.
 Formed elements
- Red Blood Cell (erythrocytes) -
Delivers oxygen to body cells and
removes carbon dioxide from
them.
- White Blood Cell (leukocytes) -
Involves in phagocytosis,
immunity, and allergic reactions.
- Platelets (thrombocytes) -
Participates in blood clotting.
Lymph
- Extracellular fluid that flows in the
lymphatic vessels.
- Clear liquid extracellular matrix, similar
to blood plasma but with much less
protein.
REFERENCES:
 OpenStax College. (2013).
Anatomy &
physiology.OpenStax.http://cnx.or
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 OpenStax College (2013). 25 4.3.
Connective Tissue Supports And
Protects. Anatomy and Physiology.
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connective-tissue-supports-and-
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