HH6A (CONNECTIVE TISSUE) HUMAN HISTOLOGY BMLS 2

REVIEW • In the gastrula stage, the mesoderm layer will be

differentiated to form the mesenchyme
• Before differentiation the mesenchyme contains cells,
which have not yet differentiated that is called
undifferentiated mesenchymal cells
• Mesenchyme is an embryonic tissue that will differentiate
to form the different connective tissues of the body

HISTOGENESIS

MESENCHYME

• The embryonic tissue derived from the mesoderm layer

• It spreads throughout the fetus surrounding the
developing organs and penetrating into them
• Composition: mesenchymal cells (undifferentiated
mesenchymal cells) embedded in an abundant
amorphous ICS (intracellular substance)

CONNECTIVE TISSUE

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THE MESENCHYMAL CELLS

• Have cytoplasmic extensions called cell processes
• Oval nucleus with well-develop nucleoli
• Undifferentiated cells
• Property of multi-developmental characteristic or
TOTIPOTENTIALITY → capacity to develop into other
tissues and CT (Connective Tissue) cells in the body

UNDIFFERENTIATED MESENCHYMAL CELLS General Characteristics

• Totipotentiality – this property makes them osteogenic 1. have fewer cells that are set widely apart from each other
(bone cells), adipogenic (adipocytes), chondrogenic 2. abundant AGS (amorphous ground substance) (ICS)
(cartilage cells) 3. have CT fibers embedded in the AGS
4. highly vascular except the mucous CT and cartilage

General Functions
1. binds tissues and organs
2. mechanical support
3. storage of fat and certain minerals
4. play a significant role in body defense mechanism
5. play a significant role in nutrition
6. play a significant role in healing and repair process

Basic Elements of Connective Tissue

1. ICS: could be
• AGS for CT proper
• fluid or solid for specialized CT
2. CT fibers: collagen, elastic, reticular fibers
3. CT cells: free cells and fixed cells
Enlarged presentation of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells
- They have cytoplasmic processes which connects to other INTERCELLULAR SUBSTANCE / ICS
undifferentiated mesenchymal cells to form a network
- Embedded in the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells is • the substance surrounding cells and in between cells
the intercellular substance (ICS) or sometimes referred to • also referred to as amorphous ground substance (AGS) /
as extracellular matrix and embedded in these substances matrix in CT proper
are the different connective tissue fibers • non-cellular components of extracellular matrix
containing fibers.

Chemical composition of ICS

1. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
• main component
• play an important role in regulating the amount of
water in CTs
• each molecule of GAG is extremely hydrophilic
2. Proteoglycans – influences the processes of development
and adaptation, thus functioning as secondary
informational macromolecules.

CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Are supporting and binding tissues

• The most widely distributed tissues in the body

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TYPES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE FIBERS 3. Reticular Fibers

• Fibers are not so wavy as the elastic when released
1. Collagen Fibers from tension
• Most abundant running in all directions in a wavy • Form small bundles that branch and anastomose
course forming a delicate reticulum
• Composed of smaller diameter fibrils bundled • Very fine fibers
together which branch and anastomose • Cannot be stained by ordinary stains, only by special
• Individual fibers do not branch silver staining technique.
• Microfibrils (400A) seen only in EM (Electron • Referred to as ARGYROPHIL FIBERS
Microscope)
• Made up of protein TROPOCOLLAGEN

CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS

A. Free / Wandering Cells

a. Blood Cells
b. Plasma Cells
c. Mast Cells
B. Fixed Cells
• Moderate in size a. Adipocytes
• Dull and opaque in appearance b. Histiocytes
• Referred to as WHITE FIBERS CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
• Types of collagen fibers
1. Type I - CT proper, bone A. Plasma Cells
2. Type II - Cartilage - Free Cells
3. Type III - Reticular - The nucleus is eccentrically located giving us a
4. Type IV - Basal lamina cartwheel/clockface appearance of the chromatin
2. Elastic Fibers materials
• Forms gentle curves or spirals at their free ends when
released from tension
• Do not form into bundles
• Coarser fibers appear homogeneous and not made up
of fibrillar sub-units that are visible with the light
microscope
• Made up of protein ELASTIN
• Smaller than collagen fibers
• Highly refractile
• Appears yellowish
• Referred to as YELLOW FIBERS

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HH6A (CONNECTIVE TISSUE) HUMAN HISTOLOGY BMLS 2

B. Blood Cells
- These are the red blood cells, white blood cells and the
platelets
- The leukocytes are sub-classified to granulocytes (with
granules) and agranulocytes (without granules)
- Granulocytes contains basophil, neutrophil and
eosinophil
- Agranulocytes contains monocyte and lymphocyte
- Monocytes will transform into macrophage if it is
found in the extravascular system of the body
- White blood cells (Leukocytes), red blood cells
(Erythrocytes), and the platelets (Thrombocytes)

Both have granules present in the cytoplasm and are involved

in allergy formation and they are part of the immune system
in the body.

HISTIOCYTES

• Are fixed macrophages found in the different organs and

structures in the body
• Liver
• Kupffer Cells (Histiocytes in the liver) – prevents the entry
of microorganism into the liver cells

C. Mast Cells
- Free Cells
- They are involved in the immune system of the body
especially during allergy formation of the body
- They secrete important chemical substances of the
immune system
- It is differentiated from the basophil of the vascular
system
- It contains granule similar to the basophil.
- Granules contains a chemical substance called the
heparin that is a natural anticoagulant of the body.

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TYPES OF HISTIOCYTES
A. Mesangial Cells (Kidneys)
- They are found inside the glomerulus and in between
the capillaries of the kidney
- It is a phagocyte and a histiocyte of the kidney

D. Microglial Cells (Central Nervous System)

- Guardians of the central nervous tissue

TYPES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Differentiation depends on:

1. different contents of the ICS
2. types of CT fibers present
3. types of CT cells present

B. Alveolar Macrophages or Dust Cells (Lungs)

- It is a phagocyte and histiocyte from the lungs

Age and Stage of Connective Tissue

A. Young Connective Tissue (Mesenchymal Connective
Tissue)
• Embryonic CT
• Mucous CT – Wharton’s Jelly
B. Adult Connective Tissue
• Loose Type – loose arrangement of fibers
o Areolar Connective Tissue
o Adipose Connective Tissue
o Reticular Connective Tissue
• Dense Type – compact fibers
o Regular
o Irregular
C. Langerhans Cells (Skin)
- It is found into the basal layer of the epidermis

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A. YOUNG CONNECTIVE TISSUE B. ADULT CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Areolar Connective Tissue
- Cells present: macrophages, fibroblasts, adipocytes,
mast cells, plasma cells
- Fibers present: Collagen, reticular, elastic
- ICS: gelatinous ground substance
- the most widely distributed connective tissue in the
body

• Embryonal Connective Tissue

- The illustration is from the Fetal Kidney tissue and it is
stained using H&E technique (Hematoxylin staining
process)

• Mucous Connective Tissue

- The illustration is a cross section of an umbilical cord
- The left side has thin-walled blood vessels and these
are the veins
- The right side has 3 dark structures and these are the
blood vessels or the arteries. The arteries contain a
thicker wall

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