CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE

⮚ As may be obvious from its name, one of the major functions 1) Fibroblasts
of connective tissue is to connect and support other tissues and
➢ The most common cells in connective tissue proper, produce
organs.
and maintain most of the tissue’s extracellular components.
⮚ Unlike epithelial tissue, which is composed of cells closely ⮚ Fibroblasts synthesize and secrete collagen (the most abundant
packed with little or no extracellular space in between, protein of the body) and elastin, which both form large fibers.
connective tissue cells are dispersed in a matrix.
⮚ Connective tissues come in a vast variety of forms, yet they
2) Adipocytes
typically have in common three characteristic components:
⮚ Are cells that store lipids as droplets that fill most of the
1. cells,
cytoplasm. There are two basic types of adipocytes: white and
2. large amounts of amorphous ground substance, and brown. 
protein fibers. a) Brown Adipocytes
CLASSIFICATION OF CONNECTIVE TISSUES ➢ Store lipids as many droplets, and have high metabolic activity.
⮚ The three broad categories of connective tissue are classified b) White Adipocytes
according to the characteristics of their ground substance and
➢ Store lipids as a single large drop and are metabolically less
the types of fibers found within the matrix.
active.
1) Connective Tissue Proper
➢ Includes loose connective tissue and dense connective
tissue. 3) Macrophages
⮚ Have highly developed phagocytic ability and specialize in
turnover of protein fibers and removal of dead cells, tissue
2) Supportive Connective Tissue
debris, or other particulate material, being especially abundant
➢ bone and cartilage — provide structure and strength to
at sites of inflammation.
the body and protect soft tissues. 
⮚ Macrophages are present in the connective tissue of most
organs and are sometimes referred to by pathologists as
“histiocytes.”
3) Fluid Connective Tissue
➢ In other words, lymph and blood, various specialized
cells circulate in a watery fluid containing salts,
4) Mast cell
nutrients, and dissolved proteins.
⮚ Tissue cell of the immune system of vertebrate animals.
 ⮚ Mast cells mediate inflammatory responses such
as hypersensitivity and allergic reactions.
⮚ They are scattered throughout the connective tissues of the
body.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE FIBERS AND GROUND SUBSTANCE
⮚ Three main types of fibers are secreted by fibroblasts:
1. collagen fibers,
2. elastic fibers, and
3. reticular fibers.
1) Collagenous Fibers
⮚ Are made of collagen, probably the most abundant protein in
the animal kingdom
⮚ Are nonelastic and do not tear easily when pulled lengthwise.
⮚ If you pinch and pull some skin on the back of your hand, it is
mainly the collagen that keeps the flesh from tearing away
from the bone.
2) Elastic Fibers
⮚ Are long threads made of protein called elastin.
⮚ Provide a rubbery quality that complements the nonelastic
strength of collagenous fibers.
⮚ When you pinch the back of your hand and then let go, elastic
fibers quickly restore your skin to its original shape.
3) Reticular Fibers
⮚ Are very thin and branched, composed of collagen and
continuous with collagenous fibers, they form a tightly woven
fabric that joins connective tissue to adjacent tissues.
⮚ They are found throughout the body, but are most abundant in
the reticular tissue of soft organs, such as liver and spleen.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE PROPER
⮚ Connective tissue proper is broadly classified as “loose” or
“dense”, terms which refer to the amount of collagen present.
1) Loose Connective Tissue
➢ Is found between many organs where it acts both to absorb
shock and bind tissues together.
⮚ It allows water, salts, and various nutrients to diffuse through
to adjacent or embedded cells and tissues.
a) Areolar Tissue
⮚ Also called areolar tissue, the loose connective tissue typically
contains cells, fibers, and ground substance in roughly equal
parts.
⮚ The most numerous cells are fibroblasts, but the other types of
connective tissue cells are also normally found, along with
nerves and small blood vessels.
⮚ Collagen fibers predominate, but elastic and reticular fibers are
also present. With at least a moderate amount of ground
substance.
b) Adipose Tissue
⮚ Adipose tissue consists mostly of fat storage cells, with little
extracellular matrix.
⮚ A large number of capillaries allow rapid storage and
mobilization of lipid molecules.
c) Reticular Tissue
⮚ Reticular tissue is a mesh-like, supportive framework for soft
organs such as lymphatic tissue, the spleen, and the liver.
⮚ Reticular cells produce the reticular fibers that form the
network onto which other cells attach.
⮚ It derives its name from the Latin reticulus, which means
“little net.”
2) Dense Connective Tissue Proper
⮚ Dense connective tissue contains more collagen fibers than
does loose connective tissue.
⮚ As a consequence, it displays greater resistance to stretching.
⮚ There are two major categories of dense connective tissue:
regular and irregular.
a) Regular
⮚ Dense regular connective tissue fibers are parallel to each
other, enhancing tensile strength and resistance to stretching in
the direction of the fiber orientations.
⮚ Ligaments and tendons are made of dense regular connective
tissue.
b) Irregular
⮚ In dense irregular connective tissue, the direction of fibers is
random.
⮚ This arrangement gives the tissue greater strength in all
directions and less strength in one particular direction.
c) Elastic
➢ Elastic connective tissue is a modified dense connective tissue
that contains numerous elastic fibers in addition to collagen
fibers, which allows the tissue to return to its original length
after stretching.
➢ The lungs and arteries have a layer of elastic connective tissue
that allows the stretch and recoil of these organs.
SUPPORTIVE CONNECTIVE TISSUES
⮚ Two major forms of supportive connective tissue, cartilage and
bone, allow the body to maintain its posture and protect
internal organs.
1) Cartilage
⮚ Composed of specialized cells known as chondrocytes that
manufacture a large amount of collagenous extracellular
matrix.
⮚ Chondrocytes are the cells that secrete collagen and
chondroitin sulfate. Cartilage functions as a cushion between
bones.
⮚ Cartilaginous tissue is avascular, thus all nutrients need to
diffuse through the matrix to reach the chondrocytes. This is a
factor contributing to the very slow healing of cartilaginous
tissues.
2) Bone
 ⮚ Bone is the hardest connective tissue. It provides protection to
internal organs and supports the body. 
⮚ Bone forming cells called osteoblasts deposit a matrix of
collagen, but they also release calcium, magnesium, and
phosphate ions to make the bone hard.

FLUID CONNECTIVE TISSUE

⮚ Blood and lymph are fluid connective tissues. Cells circulate in
a liquid extracellular matrix.
1) Blood
⮚ Blood is a specialized connective tissue consisting of cells and
fluid extracellular material called plasma.
⮚ The so-called formed elements circulating in the plasma are
erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells),
and platelets.
2) Lymph
⮚ Lymph contains a liquid matrix and white blood cells.
⮚ Lymphatic capillaries are extremely permeable, allowing larger
molecules and excess fluid from interstitial spaces to enter the
lymphatic vessels.
⮚ Lymph drains into blood vessels, delivering molecules to the
blood that could not otherwise directly enter the bloodstream.
⮚ In this way, specialized lymphatic capillaries transport
absorbed fats away from the intestine and deliver these
molecules to the blood.