1.

Collagen Fibre
(White-Fibres)

 Made up of collagen protein

(Most abundant protein in animal kingdom)

 Wavy, unbranched, inelastic, tough fibres

arranged in bundles (fascia)

 On boiling they yield gelatin

2. Elastic Fibre
(Yellow-Fibres)

 Composed of elastin protein

 Branched but arranged singly

 Maximum elasticity is present
 Highly resistant to chemicals

 On boiling they do not yield gelatin

3. Reticular Fibre

 Composed of reticulin protein

 Highly branched fibres which always form

dense network
 Delicate fibres, elasticity absent
 Mainly found in lymphoid organs such as
spleen, lymph nodes, etc
 Connective Tissue

Connective Tissue Proper Specialised

Loose Dense
(More matrix, Less fibres) (More fibres, Less matrix)
Areolar Tissue Regular connective Tissue
Adipose Tissue Irregular connective Tissue

Skeletal Connective Fluid Connective

Tissue Tissue
(Matrix solid and mineralised) ( Matrix liquid and fibre free)
eg. Cartilage and Bone eg. Blood & Lymph
Connective Tissue Proper
1. Loose Connective Tissue
(A) Areolar Connective Tissue
 Also known as Spongy Connective Tissue.
 It is most widely distributed tissue in the body.
 Maximum intercellular space and matrix is present.
 Due to irregular arrangement of bundle of collagen fibres many
gaps are present. These gaps are called areolae.
 In areolae other component of connective tissue like fibres,
cells & matrix are distributed. Few elastic fibres are present.

 Fibroblast cells, macrophages and mast cell are more in number.

 Function: it serve as a support framework for epithelium.

Macrophage

Fibroblast

Collagen
Fibres

Mast Cell
Examples of Areolar Connective Tissue
1. Tela Subcutanea
A thin continuous layer which connect skin with underlying
skeletal muscles (Panniculus Carnosus)

Tela Subcutanea
2. Submucosa of trachea, bronchi, oesophagus,
stomach, intestine

Submucosa
3. Endomysium and Perimysium of muscle fibre

Perimysium

Endomysium
 CONNECTIVE
(B) Adipose TISSUE
Connective Tissue
 Another type of loose connective tissue located mainly
beneath the skin.

 It contain adipocytes / fat cells abundantly.

 The cells of this tissue are specialized to store fats the

excess of nutrients which are not used immediately are
converted into fats and are stored in this tissue.
On the basis of adipocytes 2 types of fats are found in animals

White Fat Brown Fat

Monolocular adipocytes Multilocular adipocytes

Cytoplasm Cytoplasm
Mitochondria Mitochondria
Energy Energy
 Examples of Adipose Connective Tissue

 Brown Fat
Cold resistance in new born
baby is due to presence of
brown fat.

Hibernating animals Like Rat, Shrew

 White Fat
PANNICULAS ADIPOSUS:- A thin continuous layer of white fat
under the dermis of skin which is also called hypodermis of skin.
Yellow Bone Marrow

Blubber of whale
Hump Of Camel

Fat Bodies of Frog

2. Dense Connective Tissue
 Dense Connective Tissue
On the basis of  More fibres and less matrix.
Orientation of
Fibres  Fibres and fibroblast cells are compactly
packed in dense connective tissue .
Dense Regular Tissue Dense Irregular Tissue
(CORD) (SHEATH)
 Classification of Dense Connective Tissue
On the basis of types of fibres

WHITE FIBROUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE YELLOW FIBROUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE

WHITE FIBRE - MORE IN QUANTITY WHITE FIBRE - LESS IN QUANTITY

YELLOW FIBRE - ABSENT YELLOW FIBRE - MORE IN QUANTITY
RETICULAR FIBRE - ABSENT RETICULAR FIBRE - ABSENT

CORD SHEATH CORD SHEATH

(A). White Fibrous Connective Tissue
CORD –Many parallel bundles of collagen fibres and rows
of fibroblasts in matrix are present alternately (Regular
pattern)
EXAMPLE TENDON : Connect muscle to bone
SHEATH – In this form there is no regular pattern of fibres
and fibroblasts in matrix. Cells and fibres are arranged in
criss-cross manner.

EXAMPLES Outermost covering of major organs

(1)PERICARDIUM
(2) Periosteum

(3) Perichondrium
(Around cartilage)
(4) Epimysium
(Around muscle)

(5) Renal Capsule

(Around kidney)
(6) TUNICA ALBUGENIA
(Around Testis)

(7) Duramater (Outermost menix of brain)

(8)Cornea of Eye

(9)Glisson’s Capsule
(B). Yellow Fibrous Connective Tissue
CORD –In this form bundles of collagen fibres and fibroblasts in
matrix distributed in regular pattern & in matrix yellow fibres
form network.

EXAMPLES LIGAMENT : Connect bone to bone

TENDON

LIGAMENT
SHEATH – Irregular distributions of fibres and matrix with elastic fibre.
EXAMPLE
Wall of Small
Wall of Alveoli Bronchioles
of Lungs
Wall of Lymph Vessels & Blood Vessels

True Vocal Cords

 Reticular Fibrous Connective Tissue

 It is also called Lymphoid Tissue.

 It is mostly found in lymphoid organs.

 Matrix of this tissue is like lymph.

 Reticular fibres are more in amount and form dense

Reticular fibres network around reticular cells (Macrophages).

 Lymphocytes are also more in number.

 Provide support and strength and form the stroma

(frame work) of soft organs.
EXAMPLES 1-Spleen 2. Lymph Nodes (Tonsils, Payer’s Patches)
 (3) Endosteum
The wall of bone marrow cavity is lined by a
membrane called the endosteum.
Specialised Connective Tissue

Skeletal Vascular
Cartilage Blood
Bone Lymph
1. Skeletal Connective Tissue
 Matrix is dense and mineralised due to deposition of
minerals it becomes hard.
 Also known as supporting tissue i.e. Provide support to
the body.
Cartilage
Perichondrium (IRWFCT)
Chondroblast (Cartilage producing cells)

Collagen Fibres

Lacuna- 1 to 4 Chondrocytes

Elastic Fibres
Chondroclast (Cartilage destroying cells)

Matrix (Chondrin)
Hyaluronic Acid
+
Chondroitin-6-SO42-
 Outermost covering of cartilage is called perichondrium
which composed of white fibrous connective tissue.

 Cartilage producing cells are arranged on periphery of

cartilage known as chondroblast.
 Chondroblast are active cells & divide to form
chondrocyte and synthesize the matrix of cartilage.
 Matrix is solid, pliable and can resist compression.
 Chondrocytes are enclosed in small cavities (lacunae)
within the matrix secreted by them.
 1 - 4 chondrocytes are found in one lacuna
 Chondroclast are cartilage destroying cells.
 Matrix of cartilage is called chondrin composed of
chondroitin-6- sulphate and mucopolysacchride
(hyaluronic acid).
 Matrix of cartilage provides rigidity & elasticity to
cartilage.

 Blood supply is absent in the matrix of cartilage but

present in perichondrium.
 Cartilage

Hyaline Elastic White fibrous Calcified

Cartilage Cartilage Cartilage cartilage