Connective Tissue
General Connective Tissue (CT)
- Loose (Areolar) Fibrous - Interlacing Fibers which allows movement
- Dense Fibrous - Interwoven, numerous collagenous fibers
Special Connective Tissue
- Regular CT - Tendons / Parallel
- Elastic - Broad bands
- Adipose - Fat cells
- Reticular - Framework for lymphoid organs
- Mesenchyme - Embryonic CT composed of stellate cells and a ground substance of coagulable fluid
- Mucous CT - Jelly-like CT / in umbilical cord
Types of Fibers
- Collagen Fibers - Fibrils 1 to 12 microns long, polypeptides (proteins) / Flexible but strong, Strength due to interweaving
- Elastic Fibers - Highly refractive, albuminoid - Elastin
- Reticular Fibers - Primitive form of collagen fibers
Embedding
Fibers are embedded in GROUND substance which is rich in:
- Protein
- Glycoproteins
- Collagen
- Fat
- Carbohydrates
- Water
Cell Types
- Fibroblasts - Form fibers
- Macrophages - Big eaters
- Mast cells - Heparin and histamine
- Plasma cells - Form antibodies
- Pigment cells - melanin
- Fat cells - Adipose tissue
- Blood cells - Red and white
- Bone cells - Osteoblasts
- Cartilage cells - Chondroblasts