Connective tissue

Function:

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  • Provides support
  • Strength
  • Protection
  • Insulation and metabolites

CT has a good nerve supply and is highly vascular (except cartilage and tendons). Blood vessels supply nutrients and oxygen and remove waste from tissues. CT supplies nutrients to overlying tissue.

Composition:

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  • Has a flexible matrix - ground substance
  • Large star shaped cell - fibroblasts
  • Fibroblasts produce fibres: collagen, elastic and reticular
  • Different CT have different cells

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  • Mesenchymal cells - embryonic stem cells that give rise to other CT cells
  • Fibroblasts - secrete fibres and ground substance
  • Macrophages - phagocytose bacteria and cell debris 
  • Plasma cells - secrete antibodies that neutralise forgein material
  • Mast cells - secrete histamine and are involved in inflammation
  • Adipocytes - fat filled cells
  • White blood cells (neutrophils and eosinophils) - can migrate into CT during infection or allergic response

There are 5 types of connective tissues:

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  • Embryonic
  • Proper
  • Cartilage
  • Bone (osseous)
  • Blood

Embryonic

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  • Has a uniformed appearance - mesnchyme
  • Jelly like matric with irregular shaped menchymal cells and reticular fibres
  • Important in tissue interaction during development
  • Gives rise to all other types of CT
  • Found only in umbilical cord

Proper/mature

• Loose (areolar)
  • Rich in blood vessels, nerves, fibroblasts, macrophages, plasma cells, adipocytes, mast cells and a few white blood cells
  • Has collagen, reticular and elastic fibres for strength, elasticity and support
  • Found: joining skin to muscles
• Dense regular
  • Shiny white CT with lots of densely packed collagen fibres and fibroblasts
  • very strong - fibres run parallel to the direction of force
  • Found: tendons and ligaments
• Dense…