Prepared by

Dr. Belqees A. Allaw

2021
 Introduction
vConnective tissue is the tissue
that connects, separates and
supports all other types of
tissues in the body.
vit consists of cells surrounded by
a compartment of fluid called the
extracellular matrix (ECM).
Introduction
• Based on the cells present and the ECM
structure, we differ two types of
connective tissue:
1- Connective tissue proper divided into:
A- loose connective tissues
B- dense connective tissues
2- Specialised connective tissue: reticular,
blood, bone, cartilage and adipose tissues.
 Cells and fibers of connective tissue
The three components of
connective tissue are
A- cells
• fibroblasts, macrophages,
lymphocytes and mast cells,
adipocytes, chondrocytes and
osteocytes.
B- Ground substance
C- Fibers. extracellular
matrix (ECM)
Cells of connective tissue
v fibroblasts are the most common cells of
connective tissue. Typically only the oval
nuclei are visible.
v function:
• synthesizes the extracellular matrix and
collagen.
• plays a critical role in wound healing.

v Macrophages are specialised cells involved in

the detection, phagocytosis and destruction
of bacteria and other harmful organisms.
Cells of connective tissue
vMast cells: are round/oval cells that
contain granules that are
metachromatic because of their
glycosaminoglycan content;
Mast cells
v Lymphocytes: are the most common
connective tissue leukocyte. They have Lymphocytes
a small amount of slightly basophilic
cytoplasm and a large darkly stained
nucleus because of condensed
chromatin.
 Cells and fibers of connective tissue
• Ground substance is a viscous gel made of
water, proteoglycans (proteins that are
heavily glycosylated), glycoproteins and
glycosaminoglycans (long chain of sugar
molecules)
• These make the ground substance viscous
and bind high amounts of water which
allows:
1- hydration.
2- diffusion of nutrients.
3- nourishing of the tissue.
fibres of connective tissue
There are three types of protein fibers:
1- Collagen fibers
• predominantly made of collagen type I
(resistance to tension).
• These are the most abundant protein
fiber type, providing varying degrees of
strength and rigidity to tissues.
• Found in scar tissue, skin, tendons,
artery walls, and bones.
fibres of connective tissue
2- Reticular fibers
• consist of collagen type III
(structural maintenance in
expansible organs),
• they are thin delicate fibers that
form a fine meshwork (reticulin) in
organs such as the:
• spleen.
• Kidneys.
• Lymph nodes.
 fibers of connective tissue
3- Elastic fibers (yellow fibres)
are made from the protein elastin, giving
stretching and bending properties to tissues.
vThey are mostly found within the walls of
• Large blood vessels.
• Elastic Cartilages e.g: (outer ear, Eustachian tube
and epiglottis).
• Periodontal ligaments (surrounding root of tooth)
• Lungs
• skin
 Connective tissue proper
1- loose CT:
• Much ground substance
• Chief cells are the fibroblasts & immune system
cells.
• Main fibers is collagen fibers sparsely distributed
within the ECM.
• moderate amounts of reticular and elastic fibers
are present as well.
Function: support microvasculature, nerves and
immune defense cells.
Examples:
Lamina propria under epithelial lining of digestive &
respiratory tracts.
Connective tissue proper
2- Dense irregular CT:
• Little ground substance
• Few cells (mostly fibroblasts)
• Much collagen fibers in randomly arranged
fibers.
Function: forming a three-dimensional network
resistant to distension in all directions
Examples:
submucosa of the digestive tract.
fibrous capsules of joints.
lymph nodes.
some types of fascia.
 Connective tissue proper
3- Dense regular CT:
• Completely filled with parallel bundles of
collagen fibers.
• Few fibroblasts.
Function:
provide strong connections within
musculoskeletal system; strong resistance to
force.
Examples:
Ligaments, tendons (Ligaments connect one
bone to another, while tendons connect muscle
to bone)
 Specialized connective tissue
1- Reticular connective tissue
• produced by modified fibroblasts called reticular
cells.
• fibers arranged in an interlaced network similar to
dense irregular CT (the difference is reticular fibers are
thinner, compose a more delicate mesh, with reticular cells
remaining bonded to the fibers)
• Examples:
1- red bone marrow.
2- lymph nodes.
3- the spleen.
 Specialized connective tissue
2- Cartilage
is the avascular connective tissue that
connects bones at joints & comprises walls of
upper respiratory airways and external ear.
• It is surrounded by perichondrium:
A- a layer of dense connective tissue.
B- rich in blood vessels.
• Chief cells :chondrocytes, occupied into
cavities within the ECM called lacunae.
• The ECM is vast, rich in water bound to
glycosaminoglycans which makes cartilage
flexible in various degrees but resilient to
mechanical stress.
Types of the cartilages
1- Hyaline cartilage
• most represented type.
• Rich in collagen II molecules
(resistance to pressure),
it is found on:
üthe articular surface of joints
üin the walls of the upper
respiratory airways.
ümedial ends of the ribs.
 Types of the cartilages
2- Elastic cartilage
has many elastic fibers.
It is found in the
üwalls of the external ear.
üepiglottis
üCuneiform cartilage in the larynx.
Types of the cartilages
3- Fibrocartilage
has many collagen I molecules
(resistance to tension).
It comprises articular discs, such as:
üIntervertebral discs
üpubic symphysis.
üknee menisci.
 Specialized connective tissue
3- Bone
it is a strong, flexible and semi-rigid supporting
tissue. It can withstand compression forces.
• Support - bones make up a structural
framework for the body, and provide
attachment sites for muscles.
• Protection - protection of internal organs - i.e.
brain, heart and lungs,
• Assisting movement.
• Mineral homeostasis - the bone is a store for
calcium and phosphorus
• Blood cell production - takes place in the bone
marrow.
 Specialized connective tissue
It Composed of:
A- Cells - osteoclasts and osteocytes.
B- ECM which made up of:
1- an organic matrix (30%).
2- collagen fibres mostly type I (90%).
3- 25% of bone is water.
4- Almost 70% of bone is made up of bone mineral called
hydroxyapatite.
• The EC bone matrix is arranged in circular layers
called lamellae.
• central canal (Haversian canal) which serve for the
passage of neurovascular that supplies the bone and
house the cells.
 Specialized connective tissue
• Bone ECM is produced and maintained by several
cells:
1- osteoblasts: actively produce the bone matrix. In
non active stage known as osteocytes.
2- osteoclasts: which are responsible for bone
resorption; rare cells with only 2-3 cells seen per 1
mm3 of bone. Osteoclasts have a " ruffled border"
and are multinucleated.
• The balance of bone formation and resorption is
controlled by a mix of hormones and
biochemicals.
e.g: The loss of estrogen in post-menopausal
women is associated with rapid bone resorption
and loss of bone density and therefore puts this
population at highest risk for osteoporosis.
 Specialized connective tissue
4- Blood
is the specialized connective tissue within
the circulatory system that transports blood
cells and dissolved substances throughout
the body via blood vessels.
ECM: known as blood plasma (It consists of
water and solutes (proteins, electrolytes,
nutrients, gases, hormones and waste
products).
Specialized connective tissue
The blood cells:
1- erythrocytes(red blood cells).
2- leukocytes (white blood cells).
3- Thrombocytes (platelets).
These cells produced in the bone
marrow in the process
of hematopoiesis.
 Specialized connective tissue
4- Adipose tissue
is the energy-storing connective tissue.
It consists of:
1- adipocytes (fat cells) are large cells specialized
in storage of neutral fats.
Consequently the cell appears as a thin rim of
cytoplasm surrounding the vacuole of dissolved
lipid.
The nucleus is eccentric and flattened.
2- small amount of ECM made of only a few
collagen fibers that keep the cells together.
Depending on how the lipids are distributed
within the cell; there are white and brown
adipose tissues.
Specialized connective tissue
A- brown adipose tissue:
• each cell contains multiple fat drops,
surrounding the centrally positioned
nucleus.
• found in babies which serves for
thermogenesis (heat production).
Specialized connective tissue
B- White adipose tissue
• predominant found in adults.
• Functions:
1- plays a critical role in whole body
energy homeostasis.
2- It stores excess energy in form of
triglycerides.
3- releases fatty acids via lipolysis for
usage by other organs (endocrine organs)
 Specialized connective tissue
• White adipose tissue distributes into:

1-Visceral fats surround and support the body

organs, such as eyeballs.

2- Parietal fats are aggregations embedded in the

connective tissue proper of the skin, typically in
the abdominal, back and thigh regions.
Specialized connective tissue
5- Embryonic connective tissue
found in the early embryos and umbilical cord.
Chief cells are mesenchymal cells.
It is divided into:
A- mesenchyme (in embryos).
B- mucoid connective tissue (umbilical cord).
Specialized connective tissue
ØMesenchyme connective tissue
• originates from mesoderm, one of the three
germinative layers in embryos.
• It matures into other types of connective
tissues: muscles, vessels, mesothelium and the
urogenital system.
• mesenchymal cells are dispersed within ECM
filled mainly with reticular fibers.
 Specialized connective tissue
ØMucoid connective tissue
found in the umbilical cord.
Its mesenchymal cells are loosely
distributed within a collagen rich ECM
called Wharton’s jelly.
Clinical importance
• Some cells in mesenchyme are multipotent stem
cells potentially useful in regenerative medicine
after grafting to replace damaged tissue in certain
patients.
• Mesenchyme like cells remain present in some
adults CTs including:
1- tooth pulp.
2- some adipose tissue.