Vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen. Predict the effect that a vitamin C deficiency (a disease called scurvy) would have on bone tissue, dense regular collagenous connective tissue, dense irregular connective tissue, and cartilage. What symptoms would you expect to see from this disease?

Predict what would happen if the mucous membranes of the body stopped secreting mucus or if they secreted excess mucus.

Certain types of cancerous lung tumors can secrete hormones normally made by the pancreas, adrenal gland, and hypothalamus. What prevents such secretion from happening in healthy cells?

If you were to cut through epithelial tissue without penetrating the basement membrane, would you expect bleeding to occur? Why or why not?

State whether each of the following describes epithelial, connective, muscle, or nervous tissue.

a. ____ECM is often the primary element. 

b. ____Consists of excitable cells that are specialized for contraction. 

c. ____Sheets of tightly packed cells with little ECM. 

d. ____Makes up the majority of the brain and spinal cord. 

e. ____Cells may be smooth or striated. 

f. ____Binds, connects, supports, and transports substances throughout the body.

In the disease pulmonary fibrosis, elastic fibers of the lung are destroyed and replaced with collagen fibers. Predict the effect this would have on breathing.

Explain how connective tissues differ from epithelial tissues in structure and function.