Questions and Answers Complete
Prep 2026/ 2027
4 main classes of connective tissues - Answer- - connective tissue proper
- cartilage
- bone
- blood
5 functions of connective tissues - Answer- - Binding and supporting
- Protecting
- Insulating
- Storing reserve fuel
- Transporting substances within the body
3 main components of structural elements of connective tissue - Answer- - Ground
substance
- Fibres
- Cells
Ground substance - Answer- - functions as a molecular sieve for substances to travel
between blood capillaries and cells
- clear, colourless, viscous fluid that fills the space between the cells and fibres
- composed of interstitial fluid, proteoglycan and cell adhesion proteins that allows a
connective tissue to act as a glue for cells to attach to the matrix
3 types of fibres - Answer- - collagen
- elastic
- reticular
What is collagen - Answer- - fibrous protein collagen
- extremely tough and provide tensile strength
What is elastic - Answer- - elastin
- stretch and recoil like rubber bands
- found where great elasticity is needed: skin, lungs, blood vessels
What is reticular - Answer- - reticular fibres are short, fine collagenous fibres
- branch extensively to form a delicate network
, What are the 5 specific cell types - Answer- - blast (immature) & cyte (mature
- fat cells
- white blood cells
- mast cells
- macrophages
What are -blast and -cyte cells - Answer- blast = immature
- actively proliferating and secrete the ground substance and the fibres characteristic of
their particular matrix
- fibroblast
cyte = mature
- maintain the health of the matrix
- can revert to their active, immature, state to repair and regenerate the matrix
Fat cells - Answer- store nutrients
White blood cells - Answer- including neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, that are
involved in the immune response
Mast cells - Answer- - which typically cluster along blood vessels
- detect and remove foreign microorganisms
- initiate local inflammation
Macrophages - Answer- A type of WBC that cleans the body of unwanted microscopic
particles, such as bacteria and dead cells
4 connective tissues - Answer- - connective tissue proper
- bone
- cartilage
- blood
2 types of connective tissue proper and their subcategories - Answer- Loose connective
tissue:
- areolar
- adipose
- reticular
Dense connective tissue:
- dense regular
- dense irregular
- elastic
Areolar Connective Tissue - Answer- Loose connective tissue
Function: