Connective Tissue

Franz Aljon R. Danguilan, RMT

Human Histology
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences
 Intended Learning Outcomes
× Characterize connective tissue.

× Enumerate the functions of connective tissue.

× Describe the types of connective tissue.

× Classify connective tissue cells.

× Differentiate the types of connective tissue fibers.

× Discuss the connective tissue involvement in tissue
repair.

× Correlate the importance of connective tissue in

common clinical conditions.
 Connective Tissue
× Most abundant tissue type in the body

× Major constituent is the extracellular matrix (ECM)

× Made up of 3 structuralelements
× Specialized cells
× Fibers
× Ground substance
 Connective Tissue
× Provide general structure, mechanical strength, space filling, physical
and metabolic support

× Three structural properties with construction materials:

• × Tensile strength Collagen
× Elasticity Elastin fibrils
× Volume Glycoproteins, complex carbohydrates, ground
substance
 Functions
× Supports organs and soft tissues of the body
× Binding substance for organs and tissues
× Protection against injury and infection
× Fat storage and insulation
× Hematopoietic function
× Repair of the body
 Connective Tissue
× Develop from an embryonic tissue, mesenchyme
× Derived from the middle layer of the embryo, the
mesoderm
 Mesenchymal Cells
× Undifferentiated

× Large nuclei, prominent nucleoli, fine chromatin

× Spindle-shaped, scant cytoplasm, thin processes

× Surrounded by an ECM

× Capable of transforming into many types of cells

× All types of CT, bone, cartilage, blood, vascular
endothelium, muscle

× Embryological and fetal cells which form CT

Embryonic Mesenchyme
 Cells of
Connective Tissue
 Cells of Connective Tissue
× Fibroblasts

× Adipocytes

× Macrophages & the mononuclear phagocyte system

× Mast cells

× Plasma

× Leukocytes
Extracellular Components
of Connective Tissue
 Fibroblasts
× Synthesize and secrete collagen

× Elastin, GAGs, proteoglycans, glycoproteins

× Fibroblasts
× Active, more abundant irregularly branched cytoplasm
× Large, ovoid, euchromatic nucleus
× Prominent nucleolus
× Plenty of RER & Golgi apparatus

× Fibrocyte
× Quiescent, smaller, fewer processes
 Fibroblasts
× Rarely undergo division

× Target of locally released growth factors

× Tissue requires additional fibroblasts

× Repair in wound healing

× Myofibroblasts have well developed contractile
function
× Important for wound contraction
Fibroblasts
Fibroblasts
 Adipocytes
× Specialized for storage of fat

× Derived from mesenchyme

× Cytoplasmic storage of lipid

× Production of heat

× Cushion and insulate skin

 White Adipose Tissue
× 20% in males; 25% in females

× Triglyceride storage and mobilization

× Structural fill

× Thermal insulator under the skin

× Shock-absorbing padding ex. around kidneys

White Adipose Tissue
 Brown Adipose Tissue
× Found in newborn mammals
× Generate body heat during vulnerable period after birth
× Involutes in early infancy

× In human adults, mainly around adrenals and great vessels

retroperitoneal

× Arranged in lobules separated by fibrous septa

× Large nuclei, increased quantity of eosinophilic cytoplasm,
multiple droplets of lipid
Brown Adipose Tissue
White vs Brown Adipocytes
 Macrophages
× Well-developed phagocytic activity

× Irregular surface with pleats, protrusions, indentations

× 10 to 30µm, eccentric, oval or kidney-shaped nucleus

× Removal of dead cells, tissue debris, particulate material

× Uptake, processing, and presentation of antigens to
lymphocytes

× Early stages of repair after tissue damage

× Histiocytes
 Macrophages
× BM precursor cells divide: monocytes in blood
× Macrophages & monocytes are same cells at different
stages of maturation

× Mononuclear phagocyte system

× Kupffer cells
× Microglia
× Langerhans cells
× Osteoclasts
Macrophages
 Mast Cells
× Oval or irregularly shaped

× 7 to 20 µm

× Basophilic secretory granules, display metachromasia

× Local inflammatory response

× Innate immunity

× Tissue repair

× Anaphylactic reactions
 Mast Cells
× Heparin

× Histamine

× Serine proteases

× Eosinophil & neutrophil chemotactic factors

× Cytokines

× Phospholipid precursors
 Mast Cells
× Originate from progenitor cells in BM

× Perivascular MCs

× Mucosal MCs
× Placed strategically to detect invasion by
microorganisms
Mast Cells
Mast Cells
 Plasma Cells
× B-lymphocyte-derived, antibody-producing

× Large, ovoid cells, basophilic cytoplasm

× Nucleus with clumps of chromatin: Clock-face,
spokewheel, or cartwheel appearance

× Contain inclusions called “Russell bodies”

Plasma Cells
 Leukocytes
× Enter CT by process of
diapedesis

× Appearance in tissue
sections differs from blood
smears
Connective Tissue
Fibers
 Connective Tissue Fibers
× Collagen
× Reticulin was formerly considered a separate fiber
type

× Elastin
 Collagen
× Main fiber type

× In most supporting tissues

× Most abundant protein in human body

× Provides tensile strength to resist pulling, stretching, tearing

× 28different types
× Fiber-forming
× Mesh/ network forming
× Cell-membrane associated
 Collagen Types
× Type I
× Main structural
× Fibrous supporting tissue, dermis, tendons, ligaments, bones

× Type II
× Main structure of hyaline cartilage

× Type III (Reticulinfibers)

× Forms delicate reticular supporting meshwork
× Liver, bone marrow, lymphoid organs
× Affinity for silver salts
 Collagen Types
× Type IV
× Network/ mesh-forming
× Important constituent of basement membranes

× Type VII
× Forms special anchoring fibrils that link extracellular matrix to
basement membranes
Collagen
Collagen
Collagen
Collagen
Type III Collagen:
Reticular Fibers
Type III Collagen:
Reticular Fibers
 Elastin
× Stretching and elastic recoil

× Protein synthesized by fibroblasts: tropoelastin

× Lungs, skin, urinary bladder, wall of blood vessels

Elastin Fibers
Elastin Fibers
 Ground Substance
× Amorphous, transparent, semi-solid gel

× Profound water-binding ability

× Largely unstained extracellular material

× Rich in GAGs, proteoglycans, & multiadhesive
glycoproteins

× Fills the space between cells and fibers

× Act as lubricant and barrier to penetration by invaders

Ground Substance
Types of Connective Tissue
1. Connective Tissue Proper
× Loose –more ground substance than collagen
× Dense irregular –random orientation
× Dense regular –parallel collagen

2. Embryonic Connective Tissues

× Mesenchyme –sparse undifferentiated cells
× Mucoid (Mucous) –random fibroblasts in viscous
matrix
Loose & Dense Irregular CT
Dense Regular CT
Mesenchyme
Mucoid Tissue
Types of Connective Tissue
3. Specialized Connective Tissue
× Reticular –delicate network of collagen III
× Adipose
× Cartilage
× Bone
× Blood
Reticular Tissue
 Tissue Repair
× Following damage to cells and tissues
→ Inflammatory response
→ Local proliferation of mesenchymal cells
→ Form fibroblasts and myofibroblasts
→ Growth of new capillaries
→ Granulation tissue
→ Replace damaged area with fibro-collagenous scar
→ Healing by repair
→ Does not restore tissue to normal
 Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
× Abnormal skin laxity and hypermobility of joints

× Predisposition to recurrent joint dislocations

× Multiple genetic subtypes

× Six main forms characterized by distinct clinical associations

× Mutations in genes coding types I and III collagen

 Keloid
× A local swelling

× Abnormally large amounts of collagen

× Form in scars of the skin

× Common in African descent

× Disfiguring
Thank You