CT type classification cells ECM functions/features locations

­ ground substance
¯ fibers
­ cells • lots of ground
• fibroblasts substance and a
• allows the body to move without
connective tissue • mast cells variety of fibers • around muscles. blood vessels, nerves, organs, subcutaneous region
loose overextending and keeps
proper • adipose cells • collagen (thick and • beneath the epithelia of the digestive and respiratory tracts
everything in place
• macrophages wavy)
• plasma cells • elastic (thin, straight,
branching)

• fibers are arranged in densely

packed parallel bundles of • tendons: cord-like structures that attach muscle to bone; surrounded by a CT
¯ cells
collagen to provide strength in capsule (epitendineum), divided into fascicles by CT (peritendineum), and groups of
connective tissue • not a lot of ­ fibers
dense regular one direction fibers surrounded by fibroblasts and very little CT (endotendineum)
proper immune cells ¯ ground substance
• rows of fibroblasts are located • ligaments: short tendon-like structures that attach bone to bone
present
between the bundles of collagen • aponeuroses: broad flat tendon-like structures that attach muscles to bones
fibers
• the collagen fibers are arranged
in large bundles interwoven in • fibrous capsule of organs
¯ cells ­ fibers: some elastic
different directions to provide • deep fascia
connective tissue • mast cells and reticular fibers
dense irregular strength in various directions • dermis
proper • macrophages present
• fibroblasts are scattered • periosteum of bone
• blood vessels ¯ ground substance
between the bundles of collagen • perichondrium of cartilage
fibers
­ fibers
¯ ground substance • sheets of elastic tissue: ligamentum flava, elastic fibers synthesized by fibroblast
dense regular connective tissue • elastic fibers are arranged
¯ cells • branching elastic • fenestrated membrane: large arteries (tunica media), elastic fibers synthesized by
elastic proper parallel to one another
fibers with sparse smooth muscle cells
collagen
form the framework of:
• type III collagen fibers
• liver
• fibroblasts (reticular fibers) – • need special stain to see the
connective tissue • bone marrow
reticular (reticular cells) thin and branching reticular fibers (silver
proper • lymphatic tissues
• macrophages structure salts/argyrophilic)
• cardiovascular system
• ground substance
• lungs
• mesenchymal
cells (stellate • ground substance is
differentiates into
shaped cells rich in hyaluronic acid
• all adult tissue comes from • mucous connective tissue (also embryonic)
mesenchymal embryonic with an oval • reticular fibers
mesenchymal cells • adult CT
nucleus and a scattered ground
• other tissues in the adult
prominent substance
nucleolus)
• ground substance
• some choose to freeze the
(primarily hyaluronic
mucous umbilical cord following birth to
embryonic • fibroblasts acid) • forms substance of the umbilical cord
(wharton’s jelly) preserve the undifferentiated
• type I and III collagen
mesenchymal cells
fibers