CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Prepared by: Dr. Umair

Connective tissue
 Also called supporting tissues
 These tissues connect and support other tissues
of the body

 Presence of relatively fewer cells but a large

amount of intercellular (extracellular) matrix

 Components of extracellular matrix:

• Ground substance
• Fibers
 Ground substance consist of
• Proteoglycans
• Glycoproteins
 Thread-like Fibers are composed of proteins
and are of three types
• Collagen fibers
• Reticular fibers
• Elastic fibers
 Different types of connective tissue differ in
cell variety, in chemical composition of ground
substance, and in number & type of fibers
present in the extracellular matrix
Functions of connective tissue
 Structural support
• Mechanical support  internal framework,
protective coverings
• supportive framework by bone & cartilage

 Role as medium for exchange

• Through ground substance  oxygen,
nutrients and metabolic wastes exchanged
between the body cells & blood
 Role in defense and protection of
body
• Matrix acts as Physical barrier to bacteria
• Phagocytosis from some connective tissue
cells
• Production of antibodies

 Storage of fat
TYPES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUES
 EMBRYONIC CONNECTIVE TISSUE
• Mesenchymal connective tissue
• Mucoid connective tissue
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE PROPER
• Loose connective tissue (areolar)
• Dense connective tissue
• Reticular connective tissue
• Adipose tissue
 SPECIALIZED CONNECTIVE TISSUE
• Cartilage
• Bone
• Blood
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
 Classified into two main group of
cells:
• Resident cells
• Migrant cells
 RESIDENT CELLS
 Fixed cells
 These cells originate in connective tissue,
remain in connective tissue and ultimately die
there
• Fibroblasts
• Adipocytes
• Mesenchymal stem cells
 MIGRANT CELLS
 Free cells or transient cells
 Originate in the bone marrow & circulate in
blood  upon appropriate stimuli, they
leave the blood stream and enter connective
tissue
• Macrophages
• Mast cells
• Plasma cells
• White blood cells (leukocytes)
 FIBROBLASTS
 Most abundant type of connective tissue cells
 Derived from mesenchymal cells
 Two varieties
• Inactive fibroblasts
• Active fibroblasts
 Active fibroblast has high RER and ribosomes
 FUNCTION
• Synthesis and secretion of ground substance
• Source of proteins collagen and various
connective tissue fibers
• Scars (repair)
 ADIPOCYTES
 Fat cells
 Derived from mesenchymal cells
 Often found in groups  adipose tissue
 Large ovoid cell with marginal nucleus and thin
rim of cytoplasm
 Large fat droplet constitute the main part of cell
 FUNCTION
• To store the lipid in fed state and to release it
into the blood in the fasted state
 MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS
 Derived from the embryonal mesenchyme

 Retain the capability to give rise to

fibroblasts and adipocytes throughout life
 MIGRANT CELLS

 Free cells or transient cells

 Originate in the bone marrow & circulate in
blood  upon appropriate stimuli, they leave
the blood stream and enter connective tissue
• Macrophages
• Mast cells
• Plasma cells
• White blood cells (leukocytes)
 MACROPHAGES
 Motile, phagocytic cells found in loose
connective tissue throughout body
 Derived from monocytes of blood
 Resting (inactive) macrophages
 Active macrophages
• Engaged in phagocytic activity
• Surface is highly irregular and
cytoplasmic projections
 Foreign body giant cell
• Many macrophages
• Huge multinucleated cells
 Epithelioid cells
• At site of chronic inflammation  Macrophages
enlarged in size and resembles epithelial tissue
 FUNCTIONS
• Phagocytosis
• Release cytokines (cell-to-cell signaling
molecules)
 MAST CELLS
 Appearance : large ovoid cell with the
presence of large number of secretory
granules in cytoplasm
 Contain heparin (anticoagulant) & also release 
 PRIMARY MEDIATORS
• Histamine
• Eosinophil chemotactic factor (ECF)
• Neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF)
 SECONDARY MEDIATORS
• Leukotrines
• Prostaglandin
• Bradykinin
• Platelet-activating factor (PAF)
 FUNCTIONS OF MAST CELLS
• Key role in development of allergic reactions &
inflammation.
 PLASMA CELLS
 Large, ovoid cells
 Derived from B lymphocytes (when B
lymphocyte has interacted with an antigen  it
differentiate into a plasma cell)
 Plasma cells are scattered throughout loose
connective tissue
 More numerous in regions of digestive and
respiratory tract mucosa
 More at site of chronic inflammation
 FUNCTIONS OF PLASMA CELLS
• Source of antibodies
• When antibodies binds to mast cells 
mast cells produce primary & secondary
mediators
 LEUKOCYTES
 WHITE BLOOD CELLS
 Neutrophils, eosinophil, lymphocytes & monocytes
 Migrate from blood stream into the connective
tissue through capillary walls
 Migration increases during inflammation

 Monocytes differentiate into Macrophages

 Lymphocytes of B-type differentiate into Plasma
cells
Thank you