Mature Connective Tissues loose, dense, blood exercise 3 lab

Aug 23, 2024

Lecture Notes on Mature Connective Tissues

Overview of Mature Connective Tissues

  • Five Groups:
    • Loose Connective Tissue
    • Dense Connective Tissue
    • Cartilage
    • Bone
    • Liquid (Blood)
  • Analogy: Like shopping for different flavors (e.g., chips, soda, candy, bread, ice cream)
  • Types and Flavors:
    • Loose: 3
    • Dense: 3
    • Cartilage: 30
    • Bone: 2
    • Liquid: 2

Loose Connective Tissue

  • General Characteristics: Loosely intertwined fibers, visible cells
  • Types of Loose Connective Tissue:
    1. Areolar:
      • Referred to as "scotch tape of the body"
      • Found between layers of organs/tissues, e.g., epidermis and dermis
      • Contains various cell types and fibers (collagen and elastic)
      • Fibroblasts (oval nuclei) and macrophages (rounded nuclei) are key cells
    2. Adipose:
      • Known as fat tissue, storing energy, providing cushioning
      • Adipocytes contain large lipid droplets, nucleus pushed to the side
      • Highly vascular
      • Found in subcutaneous layers, surrounding organs, yellow bone marrow
      • Two types: White fat (adults), Brown fat (newborns)
    3. Reticular:
      • Resemble grape clusters, cherry blossoms
      • Short, wavy fibers providing support
      • Found in lymph nodes, spleen, red bone marrow
      • Cells: Reticular cells

Dense Connective Tissue

  • General Characteristics: Densely packed fibers, less visible cells
  • Types of Dense Connective Tissue:
    1. Dense Regular:

      • Collagen fibers run in a regular, parallel direction
      • Found in tendons, ligaments
      • Strong in the direction of the fibers
    2. Dense Irregular:

      • Collagen fibers run in various directions
      • Provides strength in multiple directions
      • Found in dermis, sclera of the eye, perichondrium, periosteum
    3. Elastic:

      • Combination of elastic and collagen fibers
      • Allows stretching and recoiling
      • Found in blood vessels, lungs

Blood (Liquid Connective Tissue)

  • Characteristics: Liquid matrix (plasma) and formed elements
  • Components:
    1. Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells):

      • Biconcave disc shape, no nucleus
      • Function in gas transport, particularly oxygen
    2. Leukocytes (White Blood Cells):

      • Larger, with nucleus
      • Function in immunity
    3. Thrombocytes (Platelets):

      • Fragments of cells
      • Function in blood clotting

These notes summarize the key points discussed in the lecture about mature connective tissues, focusing on their types, characteristics, and functions.