Connective tissue

Types
 Figure 4.8a Connective tissues.

(a) Connective tissue proper: loose connective tissue, areolar

Description: Gel-like matrix with all

three fiber types; cells: fibroblasts,
macrophages, mast cells, and some Elastic
white blood cells. fibers

Function: Wraps and cushions

organs; its macrophages phagocytize
bacteria; plays important role in
Collagen
inflammation; holds and conveys
fibers
tissue fluid.

Location: Widely distributed under

epithelia of body, e.g., forms lamina
propria of mucous membranes; Fibroblast
packages organs; surrounds nuclei
capillaries.

Epithelium

Photomicrograph: Areolar connective tissue, a

Lamina soft packaging tissue of the body (300x).
propria
 Figure 4.7 Areolar connective tissue: A prototype (model) connective tissue.

Cell types Extracellular

matrix
Ground substance
Macrophage Fibers
• Collagen fiber
• Elastic fiber
• Reticular fiber
Fibroblast
Lymphocyte

Fat cell Capillary

Mast cell

Neutrophil
 Figure 4.8b Connective tissues.

(b) Connective tissue proper: loose connective tissue, adipose

Description: Matrix as in areolar,

but very sparse; closely packed
adipocytes, or fat cells, have
nucleus pushed to the side by large
fat droplet.

Function: Provides reserve food Nucleus of

fuel; insulates against heat loss; fat cell
supports and protects organs.

Location: Under skin in the

hypodermis; around kidneys and
eyeballs; within abdomen; in breasts.

Adipose Vacuole
tissue containing
fat droplet

Photomicrograph: Adipose tissue from the

Mammary subcutaneous layer under the skin (350x).
glands
 Figure 4.8c Connective tissues.

(c) Connective tissue proper: loose connective tissue, reticular

Description: Network of reticular

fibers in a typical loose ground
substance; reticular cells lie on the
network.

Function: Fibers form a soft internal

skeleton (stroma) that supports other
cell types including white blood cells,
mast cells, and macrophages.
White blood
cell
Location: Lymphoid organs (lymph (lymphocyte)
nodes, bone marrow, and spleen).

Reticular
fibers

Spleen

Photomicrograph: Dark-staining network of reticular

connective tissue fibers forming the internal skeleton
of the spleen (350x).
 Figure 4.8d Connective tissues.

(d) Connective tissue proper: dense connective tissue, dense regular

Description: Primarily parallel

collagen fibers; a few elastic fibers;
major cell type is the fibroblast.

Collagen
Function: Attaches muscles to fibers
bones or to muscles; attaches bones
to bones; withstands great tensile
stress when pulling force is applied
in one direction.

Location: Tendons, most

ligaments, aponeuroses.

Nuclei of
fibroblasts
Shoulder
joint

Ligament
Photomicrograph: Dense regular connective
tissue from a tendon (500x).
Tendon
 Figure 4.8e Connective tissues.

(e) Connective tissue proper: dense connective tissue, dense irregular

Description: Primarily
irregularly arranged collagen
fibers; some elastic fibers;
major cell type is the fibroblast.
Nuclei of
Function: Able to withstand fibroblasts
tension exerted in many
directions; provides structural
strength.
Location: Fibrous capsules of
organs and of joints; dermis of
the skin; submucosa of Collagen
digestive tract. fibers

Fibrous
joint
capsule
Photomicrograph: Dense irregular
connective tissue from the dermis of the
skin (400x).
 Figure 4.8f Connective tissues.

(f) Connective tissue proper: dense connective tissue, elastic

Description: Dense regular

connective tissue containing a high
proportion of elastic fibers.

Function: Allows recoil of tissue

following stretching; maintains
pulsatile flow of blood through
arteries; aids passive recoil of lungs
following inspiration.
Elastic fibers
Location: Walls of large arteries;
within certain ligaments associated
with the vertebral column; within the
walls of the bronchial tubes.

Aorta

Photomicrograph: Elastic connective tissue in

Heart the wall of the aorta (250x).
 Figure 4.8g Connective tissues.

(g) Cartilage: hyaline

Description: Amorphous but firm

matrix; collagen fibers form an
imperceptible network; chondroblasts
produce the matrix and when mature
(chondrocytes) lie in lacunae.
Function: Supports and reinforces;
has resilient cushioning properties;
resists compressive stress.

Location: Forms most of the

embryonic skeleton; covers the ends Chondrocyte
of long bones in joint cavities; forms in lacuna
costal cartilages of the ribs; cartilages
of the nose, trachea, and larynx.

Matrix

Costal Photomicrograph: Hyaline cartilage from the

cartilages trachea (750x).
 Figure 4.8h Connective tissues.

(h) Cartilage: elastic

Description: Similar to hyaline
cartilage, but more elastic fibers
in matrix.

Function: Maintains the shape

of a structure while allowing Chondrocyte
great flexibility. in lacuna

Location: Supports the external Matrix

ear (pinna); epiglottis.

Photomicrograph: Elastic cartilage from

the human ear pinna; forms the flexible
skeleton of the ear (800x).
 Figure 4.8i Connective tissues.

(i) Cartilage: fibrocartilage

Description: Matrix similar to

but less firm than that in hyaline
cartilage; thick collagen fibers
predominate.

Function: Tensile strength

with the ability to absorb
compressive shock.

Location: Intervertebral discs;

pubic symphysis; discs of knee
joint. Chondrocytes
in lacunae
Intervertebral
discs
Collagen
fiber

Photomicrograph: Fibrocartilage of an
intervertebral disc (125x). Special staining
produced the blue color seen.
 Figure 4.8j Connective tissues.

(j) Others: bone (osseous tissue)

Description: Hard, calcified

matrix containing many collagen
fibers; osteocytes lie in lacunae.
Very well vascularized.
Central
Function: Bone supports and
canal
protects (by enclosing);
provides levers for the muscles Lacunae
to act on; stores calcium and
other minerals and fat; marrow
inside bones is the site for blood
cell formation (hematopoiesis). Lamella
Location: Bones

Photomicrograph: Cross-sectional view

of bone (125x).
 Figure 4.8k Connective tissues.

(k) Others: blood

Description: Red and white

blood cells in a fluid matrix
(plasma).
Plasma

Function: Transport of
respiratory gases, nutrients, Neutrophil
wastes, and other substances.

Location: Contained within

blood vessels. Red blood
cells

Lymphocyte

Photomicrograph: Smear of human blood (1860x); two

white blood cells (neutrophil in upper left and lymphocyte
in lower right) are seen surrounded by red blood cells.
Table 4.1 Comparison of Classes of Connective Tissues (1 of 2)
Table 4.1 Comparison of Classes of Connective Tissues (2 of 2)