POST LAB DISCUSSION

CONNECTIVE TISSUE
OBJECTIVES:
1. Know that cells, fibers and ground substance constitute connective tissue.

2. Be able to describe the relationship of these constituents, their structures

and functions.
3. Learn the distribution of collagen types (Types I, II, III and IV) in the
connective tissue types.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Tissue that supports, protects and gives structure to

other tissues and organs in the body
• Stores fat
• Helps repair damaged tissues
CLASSIFICATION OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Loose connective tissue

• Specialized connective tissue
• Dense, Regular Connective Tissue
• Dense, Irregular Connective Tissue
 LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Works to hold organs in place and is made up of

extracellular matrix and collagenous, elastic and
reticular fibers.
 Human
gallbladder.
Loose connective
tissue. Part of the
liver and
longitudinal
section of the
gallbladder where
you can easily
see the thick
layer of loose
connective tissue.
 Rabbit esophagus.
Loose connective
tissue. The
esophagus
submucosa is made
of loose connective
tissue. Nonetheless,
the large number of
cells and blood
vessels, you can see
a large amount of
both collagen and
elastic fibers that
give the esophagus
its elastic property.
SPECIALIZED CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Composed of specialized cells and unique ground

substances.
• CARTILAGE: is thin, avascular, flexible and resistant to
compressive forces

• BONE: its extracellular components are mineralized

giving its substantial strength and rigidity.

• ADIPOSE: mainly compose of fat cells known as

adipocytes.
DENSE, REGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• A type of tissue that is mostly made up of tough

protein fibers called collagen and cells called fibroblasts.
CORNEA TENDON LIGAMENT
• CORNEA: The cornea consist of a thin surface epithelium
(non-keratinized stratified squamous) overlying a layer dense
fibrous connective tissue called substantia propria.
• LIGAMENTS: more stretchy and contains more elastic fibers.
• TENDONS: The main cellular component of tendons are
specialized fibroblasts called tendon cells (tenocytes).
Tenocytes synthesize the extracellular matrix of tendons,
abundant in densely packed collagen fibers.
 DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Can be observed in dermis, in the capsules of organs such as the

spleen, liver, and those surrounding lymphatic ganglia. It is also
present in other locations such as the cerebral dura mater,
sheaths surrounding the large nerves and in the tunica albuginea
of testis.
SKIN BREAST SPLEEN
• SKIN – the layers of tissue make up the skin; Epidermis, the
top layer. Dermis, the middle layer. Hypodermis, the bottom
or fatty layer.
• BREAST- in the inactive state the mammary gland tissue
appears to consist of ducts only, separated by extensive
fibrous and adipose connective tissue stroma.
• SPLEEN- is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. It is
surrounded by a connective tissue capsule.
GUIDE QUESTION
1. Where is the majority of brown fat found in humans?

• Brown fat in newborn is located in their back and neck and shoulders.
During childhood and adolescence, brown fat scatters around the body.
Brown fat in adult is located around the neck, kidneys, adrenal glands,
heart(aorta), and chest (mediastinum). Brown fat, helps maintain your
body temperature when you get too cold. It’s the same fat that bears use
to stay warm when they hibernate.
2. Are reticular fibers distinguishable in tissue stained with H&E?
• Reticula fibers are composed of collagen and form a delicate framework
ground nerve gibers, fat cells, lymph nodes, and smooth and skeletal
muscle fibers. They are visualized by an H&E.

3. Why do adipocytes appear empty?

• Adipose tissue cells appear empty due to the extraction of fat during the
processing of the material for viewing. The thin lines in the image are the
cell membranes; the nuclei are the small, black dots at the edges of the
cells.
REREFENCES:
USHIKI T. COLLAGEN FIBERS, RETICULAR FIBERS AND ELASTIC FIBERS. A
COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING FROM A MORPHOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT. ARCH HISTOL
CYTOL. 2002 JUN;65(2):109-26.
YANG G, ROTHRAUFF BB, TUAN RS. TENDON AND LIGAMENT REGENERATION AND
REPAIR: CLINICAL RELEVANCE AND DEVELOPMENTAL PARADIGM. BIRTH DEFECTS RES C
EMBRYO TODAY. 2013 SEP;99(3):203-222.

LIU Q, WANG X, YI S. PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES OF PHYSICAL BARRIERS OF

PERIPHERAL NERVES AFTER INJURY. FRONT NEUROSCI. 2018;12:597.