1. Specialized Cells Extracellular protein fibers Ground substance=fluid
Connective Tissue
Specialized Cells
Extracellular protein fibers
Ground substance=fluid

2. Connective Tissues Characteristics
Most diverse tissues of the body
CT never exposed to the outside environment
Abundant extracellular matrix
Varying degrees of vascularity
Contain sensory receptors

3. Connective Tissue Functions
Support & Protection
Transportation of Materials
Storage of Energy Reserves
Defense of the Body

4. Connective Tissue Major Cell Types
Fibroblasts
Fixed cell
Most common cell
Large, star-shaped cell
Produce fibers & GS
Macrophages
Wandering cell
Specialized for phagocytosis
Important in defense
Mast cells
Small, mobile
Found near blood vessels
Release chemicals to begin chemical defense
Fat cells
Adipose cells
Permanent

5. Connective Tissue Fibers
Collagen fibers
Thick, long, straight
Unbranched
Composed of collagen
Great tensile strength
Abundant in dense CT
Hold structures together
Tendons, ligaments
Elastic fibers
Bundles of microfibrils
Embedded in elastin
Fibers branch
Elastic
Vocal cords, air passages
Reticular fibers
Very thin collagenous fibers
Highly branched
Form supportive networks
Least common

6. Reticular
fibers
Mast cell
Elastic
fibers
Fixed
macrophage
Antibody
producing cell
Free
macrophage
Collagen
fibers
Blood in
vessel
Fibroblast
Stem cell
Adipocytes
(fat cells)
Ground
substance
White blood
cell

7. Types of Connective Tissues
CONNECTIVE TISSUE PROPER
FLUID CONNECTIVE TISSUES
SUPPORTING CONNECTIVE TISSUES
LOOSE
DENSE
BLOOD
LYMPH
CARTILAGE
BONE
Fibers create
loose, open
framework
Flows within
cardiovascular
system
Flows within
lymphatic
system
Fibers densely
packed
Solid, rubbery
matrix
Solid, crystalline
matrix

8. Connective Tissue Proper Loose
Areolar Tissue
Mainly fibroblasts
Fluid to gel-like matrix
Collagen fibers
Elastic fibers
Highly vascular
Bind skin to structures
Beneath most epithelial
Between muscles
Adipose tissue
Adipocytes
Cushions
Insulates
Store fats
Beneath skin
Behind eyes
Around kidneys and heart

9. Connective Tissue Proper Loose
Reticular connective tissue
Composed of complex reticular fibers network
Supports framework
Walls of liver, spleen, lymphatic organs

10. Connective Tissue Proper Dense
Dense connective tissue
Packed collagenous fibers
Few fibroblasts
Poor blood supply
Dense Regular connective tissue
Parallel collagen fibers
Tightly packed fibers
Tendons-attach muscle to bone
Ligaments-attach bone to bone
Dense Irregular connective tissue
Interwoven meshwork with no pattern
Forms organ capsules, covers bone & cartilage & gives strength to skin

11. Fluid Connective Tissue
Blood
Fluid matrix called plasma
High # of red blood cells
Small # of white blood cells
Platelets-blood clotting
Transports
Defends
Clotting
Flows throughout body in blood vessels
Heart
Lymph
Flows within the lymphatic system
Contains white blood cells
Defends
Transports

12. Supporting Connective Tissue-Cartilage
Rigid matrix
Chondrocytes in lacunae
Avascular
Three types
Hyaline
Elastic
Fibrocartilage
Hyaline cartilage
Most abundant
Closely packed collagen fibers
Ends of bones
Nose, respiratory passages
Embryonic skeleton
Elastic cartilage
Flexible
Abundant elastic fibers
External ear, larynx
Fibrocartilage
Very tough
Many collagen fibers
Shock absorber
Intervertebral discs
Pads of knee and pelvic girdle

13. Three Types of Cartilage
Hyaline Cartilage
Elastic Cartilage
Fibrocartilage

14. Supporting Connective Tissue-Bone
Solid matrix
Supports
Protects
Forms blood cells
Attachment for muscles
Skeleton
Osteocytes-bone cells