1. Tissues & Cancer
Connective Tissue

2. Connective tissue Many functions include: Bind structures
Provide support, protection, and framework
Fill space
Store fat
Make red blood cells (RBCs)
Fight infection
Repair damage

3. Connective tissue Not as tightly spaced as epithelial cells
Separated by extracellular matrix (ECM)
Most can divide
Have good blood supply
Cell types:
Fixed cells
Wandering cells

4. Fibroblasts Most common fixed cell Large & star-shaped
Make fibers by secreting proteins into ECM

5. Fibroblasts make 3 types of fibers
Collangenous fibers
Elastic fibers
Reticular fibers

6. Collagenous fibers Made up of collagen
holds structures together with great tensile strength
Grouped in long, parallel bundles
Found in ligaments & tendons

7. Elastic fibers Stretch easily Made of the protein elastin
Thin fibers branch to form a complex network
Common in body parts that are frequently stretched, like your vocal cords

8. Reticular fibers
Very thin collagenous fibers that lend delicate support
Highly branched
Found in the spleen, as well as other tissues

9. Macrophages A type of white blood cell
Scavenger & defense cells that clean up foreign substances from tissues through phagocytosis

10. Mast Cells Have allergies? Thank your mast cells!
Large cells near blood vessels that secrete heparin and histamine
Heparin- prevents blood clotting
Histamine- dilation of blood vessels & increased mucous production
Allergic Response!
Some foods have histamine! ml

11. Loose connective tissue
Less packed and separated by ECM
Areolar tissue, adipose tissue, and reticular connective tissue
Areolar tissue- forms delicate thin membranes, binding skin to underlying organs
Adipose tissue- cells that store fat droplets in their cytoplasm & enlarge (insulates, cushions, & serves as energy)

12. Dense connective tissue
Closely packed thick collagenous fibers and a fine network of elastic fibers
Very strong
Tendons and ligaments

13. Cartilage Provides support and can protect underlying tissue
Forms structural models for bones
Chondrocytes are the cartilage cells
Cartilage is covered in the perichondrium, which contains the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the chondrocytes
Do not heal easily because they don’t have a direct blood supply

14. 3 types of cartilage
Hyaline cartilage- ends of bones in many joints & end of nose
Important in the development and growth of bones
Looks like white glass of fine collagenous fibers
Elastic cartilage- ears and larynx
Dense network of flexible elastic fibers
Fibrocartilage- disks in the spinal column
Tough collagenous fibers that act as shock absorber
In knees too

15. bone
Most rigid connective tissues due to mineral salts (Calcium phosphate) between cells
Supports body structures and protects vital organs
Contains red marrow to form blood cells
Osteocytes are bone cells

16. bone
Form in thin layers called lamellae which form circles around central canals = osteon
Osteons cemented together form bone

17. bone Each central canal contains a blood vessel as a nutrient supply
Thus bones heal quicker than cartilage due to the access of a blood supply

18. blood Functions in transporting nutrients, CO2 and O2, and materials
Composed of red & white blood cells and platelets suspended in a fluid ECM called blood plasma
Red and white blood cells form in the bone marrow of long bones