Tendons

Connective tissue is the tough, often fibrous tissue that binds the body’s structures together and provides support and elasticity. It is present in almost every organ, forming a large part of skin, tendons, joints, ligaments, blood vessels, and muscles.

The epithelial tissue is composed of epithelial cells and a small amount of extracellular matrix. The connective tissue is composed of different cells and a larger amount of extracellular matrix. The cells of the epithelial tissue are arranged cellular sheets either in single or multiple layers.

Adipose tissue is commonly known as body fat. It is found all over the body. It can be found under the skin (subcutaneous fat), packed around internal organs (visceral fat), between muscles, within bone marrow and in breast tissue.

Examples of loose connective tissue include areolar tissue and reticular connective tissue.

Areolar Tissue. This is a loose connective tissue widely spread throughout the body. It contains all three types of fibers (collagen, elastin, and reticular) with much ground substance and fibroblasts.

Fibrous Connective Tissue Irregularly-arranged fibrous connective tissues are found in areas of the body where stress occurs from all directions, such as the dermis of the skin. Regular fibrous connective tissue is found in tendons (which connect muscles to bones) and ligaments (which connect bones to bones).

40 Cards in this Set

What factors can change the thickness/viscosity of the tissue? The matrix and they type of cell.

Loose connective tissue is composed of loosely woven collagen and elastic fibers. The space between the formed elements of the tissue is filled with the matrix. The material in the connective tissue gives it a loose consistency similar to a cotton ball that has been pulled apart.

There are three types of cartilage:

• Hyaline – most common, found in the ribs, nose, larynx, trachea. Is a precursor of bone.
• Fibro- is found in invertebral discs, joint capsules, ligaments.
• Elastic – is found in the external ear, epiglottis and larynx.

Most abundant are the fibres composed of the protein collagen. The fibrous components of loose areolar connective tissue, when viewed with the light microscope, appear as colourless strands of varying diameter running in all directions, and, if not under tension, these have a slightly undulant course.

Basement membrane is NOT found in connective tissue.

Connective tissue that provides support and framework for the body consists of fibrous proteins and nonfibrous ground substance in varying proportions depending on their functions. Collagen, which is the most abundant protein, constitutes about one-third of all body protein.

Collagen

Loose connective tissue is highly cellular and rich in proteoglycans; it contains fewer collagen fibers. Loose connective tissue controls the diffusion of metabolites and signaling molecules and contains blood vessels and immune cells.