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Connective Tissue in Anatomy & Physiology

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What composes the extracellular matrix in connective tissue?
    Ground substance and fibers produced by fibroblasts.
  • Name the two types of fetal connective tissue.
    Mucus and Mesenchymal connective tissue.
  • List the types of adult connective tissue.
    Loose (areolar, reticular, adipose) and dense (regular, irregular, elastic) connective tissues.
  • What are the three types of collagen and where are they found?
    Type 1: skin, blood vessels; Type 2: cartilage, bone; Type 3: reticular fibers.
  • What is the main function of areolar connective tissue?
    Holds cells and tissues together with a loose mix of fibers and cells in gelatinous ground substance.
  • Where is reticular connective tissue found and what is it made of?
    Found in bone and lymph nodes; made of a network of reticular fibers composed of type III collagen.
  • What are the functions of adipose tissue?
    Storage of lipids, energy reserve, insulation, and protective padding.
  • What is the hypodermis composed of?
    A subcutaneous fatty layer of combined adipose and areolar connective tissue that binds skin to muscles.
  • Differentiate dense regular and dense irregular connective tissue.
    Dense regular has parallel fibers (tendons, ligaments); dense irregular has fibers in multiple directions (dermis, organ capsules).
  • Name the three types of cartilage and a key feature of each.
    Hyaline: smooth, glassy; Elastic: flexible with elastic fibers; Fibrocartilage: withstands great compression.
  • Why does cartilage heal slowly?
    Because it is avascular and nutrients must diffuse through the matrix.
  • What are the main components of bone matrix?
    Osteoid (ground substance and collagen fibers) with calcium salts deposited for hardness.
  • Name the three main bone cells and their functions.
    Osteoblasts: produce bone tissue; Osteocytes: mature bone cells; Osteoclasts: resorb bone tissue.
  • What is the Haversian system in bone?
    A structural unit including the Haversian canal, lacunae (osteocyte chambers), and canaliculi (connecting tubes).
  • What are the main components of blood as a connective tissue?
    Cells (RBCs, WBCs, platelets) suspended in plasma (water, proteins, nutrients, hormones, electrolytes).
  • What types of fibers are found in connective tissue and their functions?
    Collagen fibers: tensile strength; Elastic fibers: stretch and recoil; Reticular fibers: form supportive meshwork.
  • Where are elastic fibers commonly found?
    In organs that expand and contract such as arteries, heart, bladder, and stomach.
  • What is the ground substance of connective tissue composed of?
    A gel-like matrix made of proteoglycans that forms a permeable amorphous matrix.
  • What is sarcoma and which tissues does it affect?
    A cancer originating in connective tissues like fat, muscle, blood vessels, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
  • Name the most common types of sarcoma in adults.
    Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, liposarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma.