Connective tissue- most diverse and abundant tissue The active form of fibroblast is fibrocytes.

Fibrocytes
among the 4 basic types of tissue. It is divided into are the major cells of the connective tissue proper.
main classes: Fibroblast and fibrocytes are both present in
• Connective tissue proper connective tissue
• Blood- fluid connective tissue • Macrophages, lymphocytes (antibody producing
• Cartilage- supporting connective tissue cells)- Macrophages are described to be short-live
• Bone tissue (Osseous) -supporting connective cell (madaling mag expire) that differentiate in the
tissue connective tissue from a precursor cell called
monocytes. Embryonic origin is monocyte.
COMPONENTS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE: Monocytes circulate in the blood and function as
• Cells (varies according to tissue) phagocytes (engulf bacteria, dead cells).
• Matrix or Extracellular matrix- includes protein Lymphocytes are antigen presenting cells, it can bind
fibers and ground substances (varies according and attract pathogens then destroy it through
to tissue) producing and secreting antibodies.
• Adipocytes- also called fat cells. Described to be
Connective tissue arises from its common embryonic
very large cells wherein their nucleus is pushed in the
origin--- mesenchyme.
periphery (nasa gilid ang nucleus). Nasa gilid ang
nucleus ng fat cells because napupush siya ng fat
FUNCTION OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE:
droplets at ang fat cells contain abundant fat droplets.
• basic type of tissue that connects and supports
Adipocytes function as storage of triglycerides.
other tissues of the body (most important
Triglycerides are the stored form of fats, fats are
function of connective tissue)
stored in the form of triglycerides. Adipocytes are
• Mechanical support. Acts as a medium or
very predominant in the adipose tissue (specialized
means for exchange of nutrients and elimination
form of connective tissue)
of waste products
• Provides energy store and thermal insulation • Mast cells- originates in the blood cells precursors.
(adipose tissue is a good example of a Its special feature is that it contains abundant
connective tissue that provides thermal granules for the release of various vaso active
insulation agents. Vaso active agents are chemical substances
• Function as defense mechanism of our body, that is released during inflammation and allergic
acts as a barrier. It is also where antibodies are reactions.
found and located. Connective tissues contain • Stem cells- are blood cells precursors
cells that can engulf bacteria
Embryonic Mesenchyme
origin: Protein fibers components of connective
Cellular Fibroblast Chondroblast Osteoblast Hematopoietic tissue proper:
descendants I I I stem cells • Collagen fibers- very strong large fibers,
Fibrocyte Chondrocyte Osteocyte I
Blood cells
abundant and straight. It is made up of protein
and called collagen. Collagen fiber is the most
macrophages abundant fiber and function to provide tissue
Class of Connective Cartilage Osseous Blood
tissue proper
flexibility.
connective
tissue • Elastic fibers- described as branching fibers
resulting: with wavy appearance specially when the tissue
Subclasses: 1. Loose • Hyaline • Compact Blood cell
Connective cartilage bone formation and is relaxed. It is also called Intermediate fibers;
Tissue differentiation elastic fiber is made up of protein called elastin.
• Fibrocartila • Spongy are quite
Types: ge (cancellous) The branching fibers of elastic fibers allow
• Areolar complex.
• Elastic
bone stretching and recoil of the organ tissue.
• Adipose
Cartilage
• Reticular • Reticular fiber- described to be small and
delicate but also branch fibers just like elastic
2. Dense
Connective fibers. Reticular fibers have the same chemical
Tissue composition (what is the protein that forms the
Types: fiber). Reticular fiber is made up of protein called
• Regular Reticulin. Reticular fibers form a structural
• Irregular
• Elastic network of fibers that would provide support and
framework in soft organs (spleen, liver, lymph
nodes)
Connective tissue Proper usually classifies as loose
dense connective tissue. It would depend on the Ground substance component of connective tissue
amount of collagen and the ground substance that is proper:
present Ground substance is described as a watery substance
that contains extracellular materials. It is made up and
Cells found in connective tissue proper:
rich in complex proteins like glycosaminoglycans and
• Fibroblast- major cells of the connective tissue
proteoglycans and glycoproteins. Ground substance
proper and it consists of cells that are described to
function along with the fibers, provides filling up of
be elongated, irregularly shaped cells with an oval
extracellular spaces. Ground substance helps
nucleus. Fibroblast is a specific cell that can
determine functionality of tissue
synthesize and secrete most of the component of
the extracellular matrix.
Classifications of Connective Tissue Proper: Using the hematoxylin and eosin stain, the loose areolar
• Loose Connective Tissue connective tissue is characterized by relatively loosely
❖ Areolar Connective Tissue arranged collagen (makakapal na pink strands) and elastic
❖ Reticular Connective Tissue fibers. Cellular component such as fibroblast can be seen.
❖ Adipose Connective Tissue The silhouette feature of the fibroblast nuclei is not very
visible using hematoxylin and eosin stain. Immune cells can
• Dense Connective Tissue also be seen, immune cells are cell that function for
❖ Regular Connective Tissue immunity (mast cells, macrophages, and t-cells). LOOSE
❖ Irregular Connective Tissue AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE is located below the
❖ Elastic Connective Tissue skin, it fills up spaces in the muscles, supports blood
vessels, nerves, and alimentary canals

LOOSE AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE is made

up of gel-like matrix with: (components of gel like
ADIPOSE TISSUE is made up of closely packed adipocytes
matrix):
(Adipocytes = fat cells). Each adipocytes have a nucleus
• All 3 fiber types (collagen, reticular. Elastic.
that is pushed to one side (periphery) by the fat droplets and
These 3 protein fibers provide support for the
the abundant amount of fat droplets that is found within the
tissue
cytoplasm. Fat droplets is stored fats and is called
• The gel like matrix is made up and arranged in a
triglycerides. Its function is it provides reserve food fuel
loose network in the intracellular material.
(triglyceride), it insulates heat loss and support and protect
Ground substance is made up by glycoproteins
organs. Adipose tissue is located under the skin, around
also made and secreted by the fibroblasts
kidneys, behind eyeballs, within abdomen and in breasts.
LOOSE AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE contain
cells (fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, white blood
cells, adipocytes). LOOSE AREOLAR CONNECTIVE
TISSUE is considered to be as a highly vascular tissue
which means that it contains abundant blood vessels

FUNCTION OF LOOSE AREOLAR CONNECTIVE

TISSUE:
• Provides insulation because areolar connective
tissue wraps around and provide cushions (shock
absorber) to the organs. Areolar connective tissue
function as a shock absorber to the organs.
• Provide support, strength, elasticity, to the tissue.
This particular support is areolar connective tissue
holds and conveys tissue fluid. Tissue fluids
contain nutrients that would nourish the cells in
some particular tissues.
• It has an important role in inflammation because
areolar connective tissue contains cells such as
fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, white blood
cells, adipocytes.
• Because it has cells that fight bacteria and other
pathogens it provides main battlefield in fight
against infection

Microscopic view of adipose tissue - there is a thin cell

membrane that bounds the cytoplasmic lipids. The
cytoplasm is very rich in fat and triglycerides. The
cytoplasm and its stored fats appear to be clear/white
under the microscope because during the preparation of
the slide, alcohol is used in the preparation of slide and
due to that it removes the lipids.

RETICULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE- is named before

the reticular fibers. Fibroblast makes up the reticular
tissue. Reticular connective tissue forms a scaffolding of
other cells/ network of reticular fibers in loose ground
substance and function specifically to support other cells
(forms a soft, internal skeleton-stroma) in several organs
such as lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen.
 DENSE REGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE is made up of
bundles of collagen primarily all arranged parallel to each
other. Almost completely filled with parallel bundles of
collagen; few fibroblasts, aligned with collagen; and poorly
vascularized. It provides only little stretching. The
arrangement of collagen fibers is parallel. It is prominent
in tendons, ligaments, aponeurosis, and fascia around the
muscles. It provides great strength in binding together the
structures in the musculoskeletal system. Its function is
that it attaches muscle to bone and bone to bone
attachment, it also withstands great stress in one direction.
In microscopic view the collagen fibers of the dense
regular connective tissue are not straight, the collagen
fibers appear to be wavy and not arranged in a straight
line.

In the microscopic view of the reticular connective

tissue there is a numerous and abundant cell in the
reticular connective tissue, and the reticular fibers
support and provide cells a rigid support. The dark
colored dots are reticular cells (fibroblast).

DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE is a

connective tissue that is filled and made up of primarily
with randomly distributed bundles of type 1 collagen. It
is also made up of elastic fibers and function to provide
resistance from tearing from all direction and elasticity
to withstand tension. Because of the irregularly
randomly arranged bundles of type 1 collagen with
some elastic fibers, this type of connective tissue
provides resistance from tearing. It is located in the
dermis of the skin, submucosa of digestive tract, and
fibrous capsules of joints and organs.

CARTILAGE is described as a tough, resilient type of

connective tissue that structurally supports certain soft
tissues (respiratory tract, joints). Cartilage does not
contain blood vessels or nerves. The matrix contains 80%
water. Cell type is chondrocyte- cell that synthesizes the
cartilage and is the primary cells of the cartilage. The
cartilage is mainly made up of extracellular matrix (mas
predominant ang extracellular matrix compare sa
chondrocyte). The cartilage is surrounded by dense
connective tissue---PERICHONDRIUM. Perichondrium is
very rich in blood supply, blood vessels, verves, and
lymph. Cartilage gets its blood supply and nerve supply
from PERICHONDRIUM. 3 major forms of cartilage:
HYALINE CARTILAGE, ELASTIC CARTILAGE, AND
FIBROCARTILAGE.

Microscopic view of the DENSE IRREGULAR

CONNECTIVE TISSUE- interwoven bundles of type 1
collagen and some elastic fibers (violet strands) can be
seen. Predominantly the cell that is found here that
synthesize the bundles of collagen is fibroblast
(nucleus of fibroblast- adjacent to type 1 collagen
fibers)
 HYALINE CARTILAGE the extracellular matrix of hyaline Fibrocartilage contains varying combinations of hyaline
cartilage is described to be homogenous and glassy. The cartilage in small amounts of dense connective tissue.
ECM of hyaline cartilage is rich and made up of TYPE II Histologically it is made up and consists of small
COLLAGEN FIBERS and protein molecules/complex, and chondrocytes that is found in the lacuna of a hyaline
water. The extracellular matrix of hyaline cartilage matrix, usually made up and layered with larger areas of
contains less collagen and more of proteoglycans. The bundled type I collagen fibers with scattered fibroblasts.
proteoglycans are the proteins that surrounds the lacuna. Chondrocytes and Fibroblast are the predominant cells
The lacuna is made up of proteoglycans. Chondrocytes in the fibrocartilage. Fibrocartilage provides very tough,
are the major cells of hyaline cartilage. Chondrocytes strong support at tendon insertions and in intervertebral
appear to be singly or in small, mitotically derived discs and certain other joints such as discs of knee joint.
isogenous groups. Perichondrium is usually present, but
not at the hyaline cartilage of articular surfaces of joints or
the epiphyses of growing long bones (not present here).

ELASTIC CARTILAGE generally resembles hyaline BONE TISSUE is composed of bone matrix. Bone is a type
cartilage because of its chondrocytes and major ECM of connective tissue with a calcified extracellular matrix
components. The matrix of elastic cartilage is formed by (Bone matrix), specialized to support the body, protect
the abundant elastic fibers, and these are visible with many internal organs, and act as the body’s Ca2+
special stains, which increase the tissue’s flexibility. The reservoir. The bone matrix is made up of organic and
abundant elastic fibers are made up of proteins called inorganic components. The bone matrix contains
elastin. Elastic cartilage provides flexible support for the numerous osteoblasts, bone matrix also contains
external ear as well as certain structures of the middle collagen. 2 types of bone tissue: Compact bone and
ear and larynx; the elastic cartilage is always surrounded Cancellous bone (spongy bone). Compact bone is
by perichondrium. immediately located beneath the periosteum. Deep to the
compact bone there are trabeculae/ spicules which is
cancellous bone. The function of the bone tissue is to
provide support and protects the organs (heart and
lungs), provides levers and attachments sites for muscles,
provides storage for calcium and other minerals, it stores
fats and therefore made up of fats, bone marrow is site
for blood cell formation. Located in all bones of the body.
BLOOD TISSUE is described to be very unusual
and very atypical connective tissue because it is
normally in liquid form. Consists of cells surrounded
by fluid matrix (red and white blood cells
in a fluid matrix) Blood tissue is consist of fluid called
plasma and cells (rbc & wbc). The cells are
suspended in the plasma. The function of blood
tissue is to transport of respiratory gases (oxygen
and carbon dioxide), nutrients (glucose and fatty
acids), and wastes products (carbon dioxide). Blood
tissue is located within the blood vessels.