Connective Tissue

Chapter 4.2
Human Anatomy & Physiology
Connective Tissue
 Function:
- Binds structures together
- Provides support & protection
- Fills spaces
- Produces blood cells
- Stores fat
 For energy, insulation, organ protection
Parts of tissues
 Structure:
- Tissue cells are widely separated by
extracellular matrix
- Can be solid, semisolid, or liquid
 Matrix of connective tissue determine its
properties
Fibers of the Matrix
 White fibers – contain collagen which
gives the fibers flexibility and strength
 Yellow fibers – contain elastin more elastic
than collagen but not as strong
 Reticular fibers – thin, highly branched
collagenous fibers that provide support
1. Fibrous Connective Tissue
 Loose (areolar) connective tissue
 adipose
 Dense connective tissue
 Regular
 irregular
 Reticular connective tissue
A. Loose (areolar) Connective Tissue
 Lies between other
tissues or between
organs binding them
 Cells made of
fibroblasts – large,
star-shaped cells
 Contains many white
fibers (strong and
flexible) and yellow
fibers (very elastic)
 Adipose tissue is a
type of loose
connective tissue
- stores fats,
provides insulation
- found beneath
skin, around kidney
& heart, breast
B. Dense Connective Tissue
Regular Irregular
 Consists of parallel  Bundles run in
bundles of different direction
collagenous fibers  Found in inner
 Found in tendons portion of skin
& ligaments
 Binds organs
together
Dense Regular Dense Irregular
2. Cartilage
 The cell
(chondrocytes)
lies in small
chambers called
lacunae
 Matrix is solid yet
flexible
 Lacks direct
blood supply, as
a result, it heals
slowly
3types
- Hyaline cartilage-trachea
- Elastic cartilage – ear
- Fibrocartilage - ACL
3. Bones
 Most rigid of the connective tissues
 Minerals and protein fibers gives bone
rigidity, elasticity and strength
 Two types:
 Compact bone
 Spongy bone
A. Compact Bone
 Found in the outer portion of long bones
 Consists of many cylindrical-shaped units
called osteon
B. Spongy Bone
 Found on ends of long bone
 Contains bony bars and plates called
trabeculae separated by irregular
spaces
 Blood cells are made within the red
marrow found in the spongy bone
 4. Blood
 Connective tissue
composed of cells
suspended in liquid matrix
called plasma
 Red blood cells
(erythrocytes) – carries
oxygen
 White blood cells
(leukocytes) – fights
infection
 Platelets – fragment of
giant cells found in bone
marrow