CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Part 2
Extracellular matrix of CT
Composed of ground substance & fibers
Ground substance
Background material within which all other
connective tissue elements are embedded.
Consists mainly of water whose major role is to
provide a route for communication & transport
between tissues.
This water is stabilized by a complex of
glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), proteoglycans &
glycoproteins.
Extracellular fibers

Collagen fibers
Elastic fibers
Reticular fibers
Collagen
Most common protein in
the body
Offers toughness & tensile
strength
Scars are made of
collagen
More than a dozen
different varieties of
collagen exist in the body,
usually identified by
Roman numerals.
These varities are
produced by different
genes, with different
properties and occur in
different locations
Type I collagen- forms a familiar eosinophilic
collagen fibers of ordinary fibrous CT
Type II-reinforces cartilage
Type III-forms reticular fibers & also occurs in
basement membrane & bone
Type IV-occurs in the basal lamina around
smooth & skeletal muscle fibers
Type VII-interlinking collagen important for
formation of the basement membrane
Type I Collagen
Colourless-their appearance usually white
Secreted by fibroblasts as procollagen
molecules
Reticular fibers

Made from type III

collagen
Provide delicate
network supporting
individual cells in
certain organs (spleen
& liver)
Extremely thin
Can be demonstrated
with silver salts
Section of an adrenal cortex, silver
stained to show reticular fibers. This is
a thick section made to emphasize the
networks formed by these fibers,
which consist of collagen type III.
Nuclei are black, and cytoplasm is
unstained. Medium magnification.
Elastin
Fibrous protein
Help restore normal
shape after
distortion.
Contain 3 types of
fibers-oxytalan,
elaunin & elastic
Elastin molecules are joined by covalent bonds to generate an
extensive cross-linked network. Because each elastin molecule
in the network can expand and contract like a random coil, the
entire network can stretch and recoil like a rubber band.
Types of Connective tissue
CT proper
Loose
Dense
Regular
Irregular
CT with special properties
Adipose
Hematopoietic tissues
CT with supporting features
Cartilage
bone
Dense CT
Depending on the proportion of the
fibers
Dense CT- high density of extracellular
fibers & smaller proportions of ground
substance & cells
It offers resistance & protection.
Less flexible .
Collagen fibers arranged in bundles
w/out definite orientation (dense
irregular CT)
Section of immature dense irregular collagen tissue. This
figure shows numerous fibroblasts (arrow) with many thin
cytoplasmic extensions (arrowheads). As these cells are
pressed by collagen fibers, the appearance of their
cytoplasm depends on the section orientation; when the
section is parallel to the cell surface, parts of the cytoplasm
are visible. PT stain. Medium magnification.
Dense regular CT-
collagen bundles
arranged according
to a definite pattern.
The collagen fibers
of this tissue are
aligned with the
linear orientation of
fibroblast to prolong
stresses exerted in
the same direction
(e.g :tendons)
Loose CT
Has large proportion of ground substance &
cells.
Lacks the massive fibrous reinforcement that
characterize dense CT.
Easily distorted, permitting tissues on either
side to move freely with respect to one another.
However, when distorted sufficiently,it too
becomes tough & resists further deformation
Example of Loose CT- hypodermis, lamina
propria, etc.
Section of loose connective tissue. Many fibroblast nuclei
are interspersed with irregularly distributed collagen
fibers. Small blood vessels are indicated by arrows. H&E
stain. Medium magnification.