Connective tissue (Components)

Dr Sahrish Mukhtar
 Objectives
• To define connective tissue (CT)

• To enumerate the components of CT

• To describe the function of each component of

CT
 Epithelia

Connective tissue
Human
Tissue Muscle Tissue

Nervous tissue
 Connective tissue (CT)
• A basic type of tissue of mesodermal origin
which provides support and maintains form of
the body

• Also known as supporting tissue

• Connects & supports other tissues of the body

 Connective Tissue
• Functions
– Packaging material…..loose connective tissue
– Tough support within body…..ligaments,
tendons, capsules
– Rigidity to body….bone , cartilage
– Metabolic function like storage……white
adipose tissue
– Regulation of body temperature……brown
adipose tissue
– Involved in defense…mast cells, macrophages
– Tissue repair….fibroblasts
 Major
Major
components
componentsof
of
C.T
C.T

Extra
Extracellular
cellular
Cells
Cells matrix
matrix

Ground
Ground Fibres
Fibers
substance
substance
3/28/2021 Dr Nadia Younus ANATOMY 6
 Connective Tissue

3/28/2021 Dr Nadia Younus ANATOMY 7

 Components of CT
• Cellular component (comparatively less)
a. resident cells
b. migrant cells

• Extracellular matrix (more)

a. CT tissue fibers
b. ground substance
 Cellular component
• a. Resident cells:
• fixed cells
• Develop and remain within CT
• Include:
Fibroblasts
Adipocytes
Mesenchymal stem cells
 Cellular component
• b. Migrant cells:
• enter the CT from blood stream
• Include:
macrophages
mast cells
plasma cells
leukocytes (WBC)
 Resident cells
• Fibroblasts:
• Most abundant variety
• Derived from undifferentiated mesenchymal
cells
Function:
• synthesis and maintenance of extracellular
matrix & components (collagen & elastin)
 Structure:
Fibroblast • oval to irregular with fine
cytoplasmic processes
• nucleus is condensed and
elongated located in the
center
• cytoplasm is reduced.
.

3/28/2021 Dr Nadia Younus ANATOMY 12

 Resident cells
• Adipocytes (Fat cells):
• Derived from mesenchymal cells

• Single fat droplet in cytoplasm

Unilocular…white adipose…signet ring appearance
Multilocular….brown adipose tissue

Function:
• store lipid and release when needed
Signet ring appearance
 Resident cells
• Mesenchymal stem cells:
• Not identified easily

• Derived from embryonal mesenchyme

Function:
• give rise to fibroblasts & adipocytes
 Migrant cells
• Free cells
• Originate in bone marrow then circulate in
blood
• Upon stimulus reaches CT
 Migrant cells
• Macrophages:
• Histiocytes
• Motile phagocytic cells
• Derived from monocytes of blood
• Foreign body giant cell..many macrophages
fuse to form multinucleated cell
Function:
• phagocytosis
 Migrant cells
• Mast cells:
• Derive from stem cells in bone marrow

Function:
• Play role in allergic reactions…immediate
hypersensitivity reactions
 Migrant cells
• Plasma cells:
• Derived from B lymphocytes

• Nucleus has characteristic cart wheel

appearance

Function:
• produce antibodies (IgE)
 Migrant cells
• Leukocytes:
• Migrate from blood stream during
inflammation
 Components of CT
• Cellular component (comparatively less)
a. resident cells
b. migrant cells

• Extracellular matrix (more)

a. CT tissue fibers
b. ground substance
 Extracellular matrix (ECM)
a) CT Fibers

• Collagen fibers (protein collagen type 1)

• Reticular fibers (protein collagen type 3)
• Elastic fibers (protein elastin)
 Extracellular matrix (ECM)
a) CT Fibers
1- Collagen Fibers (Collagen type I):
• Non-branched fibers, arranged in bundles.
• Found in fibrous supporting tissue, skin, dermis, tendons,
ligaments, and bones.
• Acidophilic, 12 types
type II (in cartilage).
type IV (in basement membranes)

2- Reticular Fibers (collagen type III):

• Form a network.
• Stained black with silver.
• Present in cellular tissue, liver, glands, lymphoid organ and
bone marrow

3- Elastic Fibers:
• Branched.
• Stained brown with orcein.
• Lungs, blood vessels, elastic ligaments and elastic cartilage
 Connective Tissue Fibers
White Collagen fibers Reticular fibers Elastic fibers
 Extracellular matrix (ECM)
• b) Ground substance:

• Glycosaminoglycans
• Proteoglycans
• Glycoproteins
THE END!!
 Collagen Fibers
• Collagen is a flexible but tough fiber which is
found in almost every organ.
• collagen fibers are made up of a number of
units called fibrils. Fibrils are the basic units of
collagen.
• Collagen is the major insoluble fibrous protein
in the extracellular matrix and in connective
tissue. In fact, it is the single most abundant
protein.
 Collagen Fibers
• Appear white in unstained
section.
• They are formed by the
polymerization of protein
called collagen.
• Collagen protein has high
affinity for acidiophillic
dyes.
• They stained blue in mallory
& green in mason.
• It is a source of glue.
• They yield gelatin on
boiling.
 Collagen
• Collagen protein is of different types.
• They typically give 64nm cross banding
• Upto 20 types of collagen protein have been
identified.
• Among them first five are more numerous & can
polymerize to form large fibers
• Type I: form collagen fibers
• Type II: present in cartilage
• Type III: form reticular fiber
• Type IV: present in basement membrane
 ELASTIC FIBERS
• Elastic fibers (or yellow fibers) are bundles of
proteins (elastin) found in extracellular matrix
of connective tissue and produced by
fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in arteries.
• These fibers can stretch up to 1.5 times their
length, and snap back to their original length
when relaxed.
• Elastic fibers include elastin, elaunin and
oxytalan.