General Characteristics 1.Does have blood vessels- variations in blood supply (ligaments and tendons don’t heal as fast because they are poorly vascularized) Cartilage is avascular –no blood supply- heals very slowly General Functions

General Characteristics 1.Does have blood vessels- variations in blood supply (ligaments and tendons don’t heal as fast because they are poorly vascularized) Cartilage is avascular –no blood supply- heals very slowly 2. Has extracellular matrix- a non-living substance outside the cells (surrounds cells), secreted by the connective tissue cells General Functions

General Characteristics 1.Does have blood vessels- variations in blood supply (ligaments and tendons don’t heal as fast because they are poorly vascularized) Cartilage is avascular –no blood supply- heals very slowly 2. Has extracellular matrix- a non-living substance outside the cells (surrounds cells), secreted by the connective tissue cells General Functions 1.Soft cushioning and packing around organs (ex. Adipose tissue)

General Characteristics 1.Does have blood vessels- variations in blood supply (ligaments and tendons don’t heal as fast because they are poorly vascularized) Cartilage is avascular –no blood supply- heals very slowly 2. Has extracellular matrix- a non-living substance outside the cells (surrounds cells), secreted by the connective tissue cells General Functions 1.Soft cushioning and packing around organs (ex. Adipose tissue) 2.Can bear weight (bones)

General Characteristics 1.Does have blood vessels- variations in blood supply (ligaments and tendons don’t heal as fast because they are poorly vascularized) Cartilage is avascular –no blood supply- heals very slowly 2. Has extracellular matrix- a non-living substance outside the cells (surrounds cells), secreted by the connective tissue cells General Functions 1.Soft cushioning and packing around organs (ex. Adipose tissue) 2.Can bear weight (bones) 3.Can withstand stretching and abrasion

General Characteristics 1.Does have blood vessels- variations in blood supply (ligaments and tendons don’t heal as fast because they are poorly vascularized) Cartilage is avascular –no blood supply- heals very slowly 2. Has extracellular matrix- a non-living substance outside the cells (surrounds cells), secreted by the connective tissue cells General Functions 1.Soft cushioning and packing around organs (ex. Adipose tissue) 2.Can bear weight (bones) 3.Can withstand stretching and abrasion 4.Can bind together other body tissues

General Characteristics 1.Does have blood vessels- variations in blood supply (ligaments and tendons don’t heal as fast because they are poorly vascularized) Cartilage is avascular –no blood supply- heals very slowly 2. Has extracellular matrix- a non-living substance outside the cells (surrounds cells), secreted by the connective tissue cells General Functions 1.Soft cushioning and packing around organs (ex. Adipose tissue) 2.Can bear weight (bones) 3.Can withstand stretching and abrasion 4.Can bind together other body tissues 5.Can absorb large amounts of water and serve as a reservoir (fibrocartilage between vertebrae)

Description Osseous tissue Bone cells are small caves called lacunae surrounded by hard matrix of calcium phosphate Protects organs Examples Skull, protects the brain

Description Less hard and more flexible Examples Hyaline cartilage – glassy and smooth, found at the ends of bones Fibrocartilage – cushions bones, intervertebral disks Elastic cartilage – stretchy, in ears

Description Collagen fibers in a dense matrix Cells, called fibroblasts, are more crowded Examples Ligaments and tendons

Description Softer and fewer cells, more matrix Examples Cobwebby covering over muscles – Areolar Fat – Adipose tissue

Description Cells within a liquid matrix called plasma Examples Blood