Connective Tissue
General Features - Most abundant tissue in your body - Binds structures together - Provides support, protection, fills space, stores fat, produces blood cells, fights infection - Composed of many scattered cells within an extracellular matrix - Made up of ground substance (fluid, semi-solid) and fibers - Most has a good blood supply
Types of Cells in Connective Tissue -Mast Cells: prevents blood clots -Macrophages: consumers; engulf bacteria -Plasma Cells: secrete antibodies -Adipocytes (fat cells): store triglycerides -Fibroblasts: produce fibers and ground substance -Collagen -Elastic -Reticular
Fibroblast Mast Cell Macrophage Plasma Cell Adipocyte
Types of Fibers in Connective Tissue -Collagen Fibers (colla = glue): strong and flexible -Bones, ligaments, tendons -Elastic Fibers: very flexible -Skin, blood vessels, lung tissue -Reticular Fibers: (reticul- = net): provide supporting framework -Many soft organs
Collagen Fibers Elastic Fibers Reticular Fibers
Categories of Connective Tissue -Loose Connective Tissue -Dense Connective Tissue -Cartilage -Bone Tissue -Liquid Connective Tissue
Loose Connective Tissue -Binds underlying organs to skin and to each other -Forms delicate thin membranes throughout the body
Adipose Tissue (Fat)
Dense Connective Tissue
Cartilage Chondrocytes: provide support, attachment, cushion
Bone and Liquid Tissue Osseous Tissue: supports soft tissue, protects delicate structures, help generate movement Liquid Tissue: Blood and Lymph
Tissue Engineering
Connective Tissue Disorders and Diseases Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Osteogenesis imperfecta Rheumatoid arthritis