Connective Tissue
Monday, 21st February 2022
Connective tissue includes all other tissue types that do not fall under epithelial,
muscle or nervous tissue.
It binds together and supports other tissues, acts as a transport system (eg
blood is a connective tissue), protects and insulates internal organs, stores
energy reserves (eg adipose tissue), protects against pathogens and
compartmentalises structures into sections.
This tissue connects epithelial tissue to the rest of the body and are thus highly
vascularised to provide nutrition (except cartilage and tendons).
Connective tissue is never exposed to the external environment.
It is composed of specialised cells, protein fibres and some sort of ground
substance. These three form the extracellular matrix.
The matrix can have a variety of textures or structures and is usually
secreted by the connective tissue shells and thus determines
surrounding tissues qualities.
Connective Tissue 1
, An overview of the components of connective tissue.
Specific Components:
Cellular Components:
Fibroblasts produce fibres and ground substance and are the most abundant.
Macrophages act as phagocytic immune cells.
Mast cells produce heparin (released at injury for defence) and histamine
(inflammatory compound) and have a role in inflammation and allergies.
Plasma cells produce antibodies.
The permanent cell types include fibroblasts, adipocytes and mesenchymal stem
cells which produce connective tissue cells via mitosis.
Used for maintenance, repair and energy storage.
The temporary cell types include macrophages, mast cells, plasma cells, RBCs
and other phagocytic WBCs.
Used for defence and immediate repair.
Extracellular Matric:
The EM is located in the spaces between the connective tissue cells and is
composed of the ground substance and protein fibres.
Connective Tissue 2
Monday, 21st February 2022
Connective tissue includes all other tissue types that do not fall under epithelial,
muscle or nervous tissue.
It binds together and supports other tissues, acts as a transport system (eg
blood is a connective tissue), protects and insulates internal organs, stores
energy reserves (eg adipose tissue), protects against pathogens and
compartmentalises structures into sections.
This tissue connects epithelial tissue to the rest of the body and are thus highly
vascularised to provide nutrition (except cartilage and tendons).
Connective tissue is never exposed to the external environment.
It is composed of specialised cells, protein fibres and some sort of ground
substance. These three form the extracellular matrix.
The matrix can have a variety of textures or structures and is usually
secreted by the connective tissue shells and thus determines
surrounding tissues qualities.
Connective Tissue 1
, An overview of the components of connective tissue.
Specific Components:
Cellular Components:
Fibroblasts produce fibres and ground substance and are the most abundant.
Macrophages act as phagocytic immune cells.
Mast cells produce heparin (released at injury for defence) and histamine
(inflammatory compound) and have a role in inflammation and allergies.
Plasma cells produce antibodies.
The permanent cell types include fibroblasts, adipocytes and mesenchymal stem
cells which produce connective tissue cells via mitosis.
Used for maintenance, repair and energy storage.
The temporary cell types include macrophages, mast cells, plasma cells, RBCs
and other phagocytic WBCs.
Used for defence and immediate repair.
Extracellular Matric:
The EM is located in the spaces between the connective tissue cells and is
composed of the ground substance and protein fibres.
Connective Tissue 2
