1. Connective Tissue

2. 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

3. 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

4. Fibroblast Mast Cell Macrophage Plasma Cell Adipocyte

5. 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

6. Collagen Fibers Elastic Fibers Reticular Fibers

7. Categories of Connective Tissue -Loose Connective Tissue -Dense Connective Tissue -Cartilage -Bone Tissue -Liquid Connective Tissue

8. Loose Connective Tissue -Binds underlying organs to skin and to each other -Forms delicate thin membranes throughout the body

9. Adipose Tissue (Fat)

10. Dense Connective Tissue

11. Cartilage Chondrocytes: provide support, attachment, cushion

12. Bone and Liquid Tissue Osseous Tissue: supports soft tissue, protects delicate structures, help generate movement Liquid Tissue: Blood and Lymph

13. Tissue Engineering

14. Connective Tissue Disorders and Diseases Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Osteogenesis imperfecta Rheumatoid arthritis