Connective Tissues

Functions of Connective tissue

y Connect
C
t and
d bi
binds
d b
body
d parts
t ttogether
th
y Transport of nutrients and metabolites
y Provide mechanical support and form framework

for various organs

g
y Aid in the defense against invading
microorganisms
y Aid in the disposal of disintegrating body cells
y Furnish
F
i h cells
ll ffor th
the regeneration
ti off any iinjured
j d or
damaged connective tissue

CHARACTERISTICS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE

y All has these main structural components cells,
cells

fibers and ground substance and

extracellular fluids.
fluids (Ground substance and
fibers are known as the matrix).

y has scattered and widely separated cells.

y Matrix varies in consistency. It may be fluid,

mucoid (jelly-like),
(jelly like) rubbery,
rubbery tough,
tough fibrous,
fibrous dense
or hard.

Connective
Tissues
i

Protein/Matrix :
Rubbery / Dense

Protein Fiber Matrix

Fibrous : Collagen,
Elastic, Reticular

Loose

Dense Regular
and
d Irregular
l

Special

Adipose
Elastic CT

Cartilage
(Chondrocytes)

Bone
(Osteocytes)

Fluid matrix

Blood (RBC,
WBC, platelets)

Loose fibrous connective tissues

It is a pliable, mesh-like tissue which
functions to cushion and protect body
organs
g
Cells called fibroblasts
Matrix is of a gel-like gelatinous
substance primarily made up of
collagenous and elastic fibers.
The areolar tissue is found beneath the
dermis and body systems that have
external openings.
It is also a component of mucus
membranes of different body systems.
It also surrounds the blood vessels and
nerves.

Dense Fibrous Connective Tissues

Dense regular connective tissue provides strong
connection between different tissues.
The collagen
g fibers in dense regular
g
connective
tissue are bundled in a parallel fashion.
Found in tendons and ligaments

Dense irregular connective tissue has

fibers that are not arranged in parallel
bundles.
It consists primarily of collagenous
fibers
It is found in the dermis and also in the
white layer of the eyeball and in the
deeper skin layers.

Adipose
p
Connective Tissues
ADIPOSE
Description: consists of cells
specialized
p
ffor fat
f storage,
g ,
has little or no extracellular
substance
Functions: provides reserve
food supply by synthesizing and
storing fat, provides insulation
against loss of body heat
Main locations: around
organs, beneath epidermis
( t llayer off skin)
(outer
ki )

Elastic Connective Tissue

y Description: has thick

elastic fiber, yellow in

color, spaces are filled with
fibroblasts and some
collagenous fibers.

y Functions:
Functions allows
allo s

stretching, provides
support

y Main locations: walls of

hollow organs
g
like
stomach, walls of arteties,
heart, trachea, vocal
chords,, brochi

Connective
Tissues

Protein/Ground
substance
b
matrix

Protein Fiber
Matrix

Fibrous

Special

Cartilage

Hyaline

Fibrocartilage

Fl id matrix
Fluid
i

Blood

Bone

Elastic

Compact

Cancellous

CARTILAGE
The cartilage
Th
til
is
i made
d
up of cells, matrix,
and intercellular
fibers. But the
matrix has acquired
a certain firmness to
resist tension and
pressure to a certain
extent.
extent

Hyaline
y
Cartilage
g
Description:
p
networks of
collagenous
ll
fib
fibers
with
ith
many spaces filled with
ground substance,
translucent, strong, able to
support weight, usually
enclosed within fibrous
perichondrium, which is
composed of dense fibrous
connective tissue, cartilage
cells are known as
chondrocytes, which are
lodged in cavities r spaces
called lacunae.
Functions: forms major part of
embryonic skeleton, aids in
free movement of joints,
assists growth of long bones
Main locations: trachea,
larynx, nose, end of ribs,
embryo, ends of long bones

Elastic Cartilage
g
-Description: has dense
elastic fibers which are
scattered in ground
substance, cells can produce
elastic and collagenous
g
fib
fibers,
enclosed
l d within
i hi
perichordial sheath,
more flexible and elastic
than hyaline cartilage.
cartilage
Functions: provides
flexibility and lightweight
support
-Main
Main locations: external
ear, epiglottis in throat,
larynx, nasopharynx,
auditory tube

Fibrocartilage
g
Description: consists of bundles
of resilient, pliable
collagenous fibers that leave a
little room for ground
substance,
b t
usually
ll merges
with hyaline cartilage, no
perichondrium
Functions: povides support and
protection, durability and
strength to resist tension
Main locations: intervertebral
discs, fleshy pad bet. pubic
bones (symphysis pubis),
g of tendon g
grooves,,
lining
mandibular joints

Bone or Osseous Tissue

-Description:
y The bone is a hard specialized
connective tissue with its
collagenous matrix greatly
impregnated with mineral salt,
esp calcium.
esp.
calcium
y The bones main cells of fully
developed bones are called
osteocytes.
Functions:
y supports and protects internal
organs,
y serves as a framework for the
whole body.
y storehouse and main supply of
reserve calcium and phosphate,
phosphate
bone marrow
y site for manufacture of red blood
cells and some white blood cells.

Compact
p
Bone
-Description: forms the
outer shell of a bone,
bone
very hard and dense (like
ivory), has fewer spaces
than spongy tissue,
organized in units called
Haversians systems
(osteons)
Osteons contains:
-haversian canal that contains
blood vessels
-matrix
matrix consists of fibers,
fibers
ground substance and
mineral salts
-Lamellae that contains
l
lacunae
which
hi h h
house th
the
osteocytes
-canaliculi that contains
slender extensions of
osteocytes

Spongy
p gy or Cancellous Bone
-Description:
Description: found in
the interior of the
bone, has larger cavities
and more slender
intervening body
partitions,
ii
prominent
i
iin
this are the trabeculae
or tiny spikes of bone
tissue surrounded by
calcified matrix.

Connective
Tissues

Protein/Ground
substance
matrix

Protein Fiber
Matrix

Fibrous

Special

Cartilage

Fluid matrix

Blood

Bone

Erythrocytes

Cells

Plasma / Serum

Leukocytes

Platelets

Blood or vascular Tissue

-Description:
y consists
i t off plasma
l
th
thatt contains
t i
cells erythrocytes, leucocytes,
and thrombocytes that
originate from the myeloid
(b
(bone
marrow))
y It also contains lymphatic
tissue, matrix, intercellular
ffibers,, organic
g
and inorganic
g
salts,
l water, h
hormones, waste
products, gases, other protein
substances like prothrombin,
fibrinogen,
g , hepatin,
p
, etc.
y It is slightly alkaline (pH 7.357.45)
y When a clot is formed and the
coagulated blood is removed,
removed
the resulting fluid left is termed
serum.

Erythrocytes
y
y
-Description: most numerous,
numerous
make up about half the
volume of human blood,
bi
biconcaved,
d no nucleus,
l
consists of hemoglobin,
forms resembling
gp
piles of
coins known as Rouleaux
formation
-Main Function: transports
oxygen
o
yge a
and
d ca
carbon
bo d
dioxide
o de
-Life span:
p
80-120 days
y

Leucocytes
y
-Description:
y
larger than RBC,
nucleated, able to move
about independently and
pass through blood
vessels into the tissues,
y

do not exhibit crenation

nor Rouleaux formation

has several types that

can be distinguished
based on the presence
and staining reactions of
cytoplasmic granules

Granulocytes
y
Acidophile or eusinophile
-Description:
Description: has two-lobed
two lobed nucleus
and coarse spherical granules
-Functions: modulates allergic and
inflammatory reactions
-Life span: several weeks
Basophile
-Description:
Description: has elongated S-shaped
S shaped
nucleus and granules, contains
histamine, heparin and slowreacting substance
Neutrophile
-Description: most numerous WBC,
contains three to ffive lobes off
nucleus (polymorphonuclear)
-Functions: destroys
microorganisms/ foreign bodies by
phagocytosis
p
agocytos s a
and
d lytic
yt c eenzymes
y es
-Life span: 4-5 days

Agranulocytes
g
y
Lymphocytes
-Description: formed by lymphatic tissues,
smallest WBC, migratory and can be found
in mucous membrane of digestive and
respiratory tracts,
tracts spleen
spleen, has round
nucleus that nearly fills the cell
-Functions: involve in synthesis of antibodies,
and immune response
-Life span: days to years
Monocytes
-Description: largest blood cells,
mononuclear, has abundant cytoplasm
devoid of granules
-Functions: becomes phagocytic that engulfs,
ingest, and destroys harmful particles
-Life
Lif span: d
days tto years

Thrombocytes
y
-Description:
p
small,, nonnucleated, colorless,
round or oval, non
motile produced by
motile,
giant cells known as
megakaryocytes
g
y y
-Functions: formation of
blood clot, releases
serotonin
-Life span: 8-10 days