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(CHAPTER 4 PART 2) Connective Tissue Types and Characteristics - Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (25)

  • What are the major functions of connective tissue?
    Binding and support, protecting, insulating, storing reserve fuel, and transporting substances within the body (e.g., blood).
  • What are the three main components of connective tissue?
    Fibers, ground substance, and cells.
  • What are the four main classes of connective tissue?
    Connective tissue proper, cartilage, bone, and blood.
  • What are the two subclasses of connective tissue proper?
    Loose connective tissue and dense connective tissue.
  • Name the three types of loose connective tissue.
    Areolar, adipose, and reticular connective tissue.
  • What are the three types of dense connective tissue?
    Dense regular, dense irregular, and elastic connective tissue.
  • What is the primary cell type in connective tissue proper that produces fibers?
    Fibroblasts.
  • What are the three types of fibers found in connective tissue?
    Collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and reticular fibers.
  • What is the function of collagen fibers?
    Provide high tensile strength and are the strongest and most abundant fibers.
  • What is the role of elastic fibers in connective tissue?
    Allow tissues to stretch and recoil.
  • What is the function of reticular fibers?
    Form a mesh-like network that supports soft organs and cells.
  • What distinguishes immature '-blast' cells from mature '-cyte' cells in connective tissue?
    '-blast' cells actively secrete matrix and fibers; '-cyte' cells maintain the matrix and can revert to '-blast' for repair.
  • What are the main functions of areolar connective tissue?
    Supports and binds other tissues, wraps and cushions organs, and holds tissue fluid.
  • What is the primary function of adipose tissue?
    Stores energy as fat, provides insulation, and cushions organs.
  • Where is reticular connective tissue primarily found and what is its function?
    Found in lymphoid organs; forms a soft internal skeleton (stroma) supporting blood cells.
  • What is the key characteristic of dense regular connective tissue?
    Parallel collagen fibers providing great tensile strength in one direction; found in tendons and ligaments.
  • How does dense irregular connective tissue differ from dense regular?
    Collagen fibers are thicker and arranged irregularly to resist tension from multiple directions.
  • What is the function of elastic connective tissue?
    Allows tissues to stretch and recoil, found in walls of large arteries and certain ligaments.
  • What are the main features of cartilage tissue?
    Tough, flexible, avascular tissue with chondrocytes in lacunae; matrix rich in water and collagen.
  • Name the three types of cartilage and a key feature of each.
    Hyaline (most abundant, glassy), elastic (more elastic fibers, flexible), fibrocartilage (strong, shock-absorbing).
  • What distinguishes bone tissue from cartilage?
    Bone is hard and calcified with inorganic salts, richly vascularized, and supports and protects body structures.
  • What are osteoblasts and osteocytes?
    Osteoblasts produce bone matrix; osteocytes maintain the matrix and reside in lacunae.
  • What makes blood a connective tissue?
    It has cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets) suspended in a fluid matrix (plasma) and transports substances.
  • What is the function of mast cells in connective tissue?
    Detect foreign microorganisms and initiate inflammation by releasing histamine and heparin.
  • What role do macrophages play in connective tissue?
    Phagocytize foreign materials and dead cells; can be fixed or mobile.