BUTUAN DOCTORS’ COLLEGE

Butuan City

Name: _______________________________
Daxx Kenu T. Bugtai Remarks: _________
BSMT - 1B
Program, level and section: _______________

Laboratory Worksheet No. 4

CONNECTIVE TISSUE PROPER

OBJECTIVES: At the end of the activity, the students shall be able to:
1. Identify and characterize the connective tissue proper;
2. Recognize the body parts composed of connective tissue proper; and
3. Appreciate the importance of the connective tissue proper in organ
formation.

INTRODUCTION:

The connective tissues bind and connect together the different organs of the body.
They are characterized by the presence of abundant fibers and liquid amorphous ground
substances. These together form the matrices of the tissues. Connective tissues are
grouped into three, namely – connective tissue proper (embryonal and adult connective
tissues), supportive tissues (bone and cartilage) and vascular tissues (blood).

Connective tissue proper is composed of cells and fibers. The cells vary according
to shape and function. Among the cells are the fibroblasts, plasma cells, mast cells,
macrophages, pigment cells, undifferentiated mesenchyme, adipose cells and blood
cells. The fibers are of three kinds – collagenous or white fibers, elastic or yellow fibers
and reticular fibers. Adult connective tissues are exampled by the following:

1. Adipose tissue – contain predominantly fat cells, many fewer fibroblasts,

macrophages and mast cells. This forms protective pads around the kidney and
various other structures. It also serves two other functions - it constitutes a storage
depot for excess food and it acts as an insulting material to conserve body heat.

2. Dense fibrous tissue – contains predominantly collagenous fibers and

closely arrange side by side in parallel bundles. This is a silvery white, strong and
tough yet perfectly pliant, sparingly supplied with nerves and blood vessels. It is a
part of the supporting framework of the body like tendons (sinews), ligaments,
aponeurosis, membranes and fasciae.

3. Reticular tissue – forms a network of slender, branching reticular fibers

with reticular cells overlying them. Branches of cytoplasm of reticular fibers form a
framework of the spleen, lymph nodes and bone marrow. It functions as part of the

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 body’s complex immune mechanism by filtering injurious substances out of the blood
and lymph and reticular cells and other certain kinds of cells phagocytose them.

4. Areolar or loose connective tissue – irregularly arranged tissue which

serves as packing tissue in adult between organs and other tissues. All types of cells
and fibers exist with fibroblast and collagenous fibers exist with fibroblast and reticular
cells and other certain kinds of cells substance is amorphous semi-fluid.

PROCEDURE: Refer to any Human Anatomy and Physiology book or surf from the
Internet and provide the following questions with satisfactory answers.

1. Describe the supporting and connecting functions of the connective tissues.

Connective tissues are usually characterized by large amount of extracellular materials that separate cells
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
from one another (i.e. ectracellular matrix). Connective tissues perform major categories of functions like
enclosing or separating tissues and organs, connecting tissues to one another, supporting and moving,
______________________________________________________________
storage of nutrients and fats for energy, cushioning and insulating, transporting, and even protecting.
______________________________________________________________
Connective tissues does not only connect a tissue to another tissue or organ, but also to connect by means
______________________________________________________________
of transporting nutriens, signals, and substances throughout the body. For example, the circulation of blood.
______________________________________________________________

2.
a. Describe the connective tissue
shown It______________________
is an adipose tissue where there
are large fat depots that can be observed.
___________________________

b. What are the predominant cells

and describe the shape? Adipocytes
_______
are the predominant cells and they are like
___________________________
___________________________
signet ring in shape.

. c. Briefly describe the function of

The adipose tissue serves
this tissue. __________________
___________________________
as a storage for energy, thermal insulator,
and protection against injury from being
___________________________
___________________________
bumped or jarred (as a cushion).

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3.
a. Identify the connective tissue
I identify it as a collagenous
shown. _____________________
tissue.
___________________________

b. What are the predominant cells

and fibers of this tissue? The _______
predominan cells and fibers are the
___________________________
___________________________
fibroblasts, elastic, and/or reticular fibers.

c. Name a body structure having

Tendons
this type of tissue. ____________

d. Briefly describe the functions of

This tissue attach muscle
this tissue. __________________
to bone; many ligaments to attach bone to
___________________________
bone, and much of the dermis (i.e. mostly
___________________________
the connective tissue of the skin).
___________________________

4. Why is a mesenchymal cell considered as multipotent adult stem cell?

______________________________________________________________
Mesenchymal cells are considered as multipotent adult stem cells; they are 'multipotent' because they can
______________________________________________________________
be more than one type of specialized cell but not all the type. They are also important in replacing the
______________________________________________________________
damaged tissue after an injury occured. They also have the ability to differentiate into mature lineages
hence, they are called undifferentiated cells and mostly in embryonic stage.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

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5.
a. Identify the connective tissue
Identified as a loose connective
shown. ______________________
tissue.
____________________________

b. Describe the nature of

extracellular matrix of this tissue.
Consists mostly of collagen and few elastic
____________________________
fibers that are separated from one another.
____________________________

c. What are the predominant cells

and fibers of this connective tissue?
The predominant cells and fibers of this
____________________________
connective tissue are the fibroblasts, elastic
____________________________
fibers, and collagen fibers.
____________________________

d. Briefly describe the function of

The function
this connective tissue. __________
of the loose connective tissue
____________________________ is to support
and help in nourishing the
____________________________ structure which
it is associated.
____________________________

6. On the space provided for, write the connective tissue cells as described:
a. with fat droplet and flattened nucleus These are adipocytes
_____________________
b. phagocytic cells They are lysosomes
_____________________
c. fiber-forming cells Fibroblasts
_____________________
d. form anticoagulant substance Heparin
_____________________
The plasma cell
e. chromatin appears like spoke of wheel _____________________
These are lymphocytes
f. actual formers of circulating antibodies _____________________
They are called melanocytes
g. melanin-producing cells _____________________
h. multipotent adult stem cell These are mesenchymal cells
_____________________

END

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