Connective tissue forms a continuum between epithelial, muscle, and nervous tissues to integrate the body. Unlike epithelial cells, connective tissue cells are scattered within an extracellular matrix and not directly attached. Connective tissue functions include connecting tissues, protecting organs, storing energy, metabolite diffusion, defense, cell growth, wound healing. It contains cells like fibroblasts that secrete fibers and ground substance, macrophages that remove debris, plasma cells that produce antibodies, and adipocytes that store fat. The extracellular matrix contains collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers as well as glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins in ground substance. There are several types of connective tissue including loose, dense, mucous, mesenchymal, reticular
2. Connective tissue
Connective tissue, as the name implies, forms a
continuum with epithelial tissue ,muscle, and
nervous tissue to maintain a functionally integrated
body.
Unlike cells of Epithelial tissue, connective tissue cells are not
directly attached to one another.
Connective tissue consists of individual cells
scattered within an extracellular matrix.
3. Major Functions of Connective
Tissue
Connection of body tissues
Protection of organs
Storage of energy
Diffusion of metabolites
Defence
Cell growth and differentiation
Wound healing
5. cells
Fibroblasts (which secrete the fibers and
ground substance of the extracellular matrix).
Macrophages (which ingest and remove foreign
material or damaged cells).
Plasma cells(Which derived from B lymphocytes and
manufacture antibodies.
Adipocytes (which store fat).
Mast cells (which trigger inflammation).
Mesenchymal cells
lymphocytes, Eosinophils, and neutrophils
13. Loose connective tissue
Loose arrangement
of fibers and cells in
abundant ground
substance
Underlies all
epithelia, between
muscles, passageways
for nerves and blood
vessels
5-13
14. Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
Densely packed, randomly arranged, collagen fibers and few
visible cells
reticular layer of derm; capsules around organs
5-14
15. Dense Regular Connective Tissue
Densely, packed, parallel collagen fibers
compressed fibrobalast nuclei
Tendons and ligaments hold bones together and
attach muscles to bones
5-15