Connective Tissue

Types of Connective Tissue Osseous Tissue (Bone Tissue) Loose Connective Tissue Areolar Tissue Adipose Tissue Reticular Connective Tissue Dense Connective Tissue Cartilage Blood

Osseous Tissue Hard Calcified matrix containing many collagen fibers Osteocytes lie in lacunae Well vascularized

Location Found in bones

Function Bone supports and protects Provides levers for the muscles to act on Stores calcium, minerals, and fat Marrow inside bones- site for blood cell formation

Bone Tissue

Areolar Tissue Gel – like matrix composed of all types of fibers Contains phagocytes, white blood cells

Location of Areolar Tissue Lamina propria is found under mucous membranes Internal organs

Functions of Areolar Tissue Wraps and cushions organs Phagocytes engulf bacteria Holds and conveys tissue fluid (water, salts, nutrients)

Areolar Tissue

Adipose Tissue Closely packed fat cells have nucleus pushed to the side by large fat droplet. Similar matrix to areolar tissue

Location of Adipose Tissue Under skin Around kidneys and eyeballs In bones Within abdomen In breasts

Function of Adipose Tissue Provides reserve food fuel Insulates against heat loss Supports and protects organs

Cell membrane Nucleus Fat vacuole

Reticular Connective Tissue Network of reticular fibers in a typical loose ground substance; reticular cells predominate.

Location of Reticular Tissue Lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen)

Function of Reticular Tissue Fibers form a soft internal skeleton (stoma) that supports other cell types (specially blood cells)

Dense Connective Tissue Primarily collagen fibers A few elastic fibers Major cell type is the fibroblast

Location of Dense Connective Tissue Tendons Most Ligaments Aponeurosis

Function of Dense Connective Tissue Attaches muscles to bones or muscles Attaches bones to bones Withstands great tensile stress

Dense Connective Tissue http://microanatomy.net/connective_tissue/00004525.jpg

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Cartilage Hyaline cartilage – abundant collagen fibers in rubbery matrix; blue-white appearance; most abundant Elastic cartilage – yellowish appearance Fibrocartilage

Location of Hyaline Cartilage Forms most of the embryonic skeleton Covers the ends of long joints in joint cavities Forms coastal cartilage of the ribs Cartilage of nose, trachea, and larynx

Location of Elastic Cartilage Location of Fibrocartilage External ear Disk between vertebrae of spinal column

Function of Cartilage Tissue Supports and reinforces Has cushioning properties Resists compression

Hyaline Cartilage

Vascular Tissue (Blood) Blood cells surrounded by blood plasma Fibers in blood are not visible until clotting occurs