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:
- 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
- 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)
- 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:
-
Dense Regular:
- Collagen fibers run in a regular, parallel direction
- Found in tendons, ligaments
- Strong in the direction of the fibers
-
Dense Irregular:
- Collagen fibers run in various directions
- Provides strength in multiple directions
- Found in dermis, sclera of the eye, perichondrium, periosteum
-
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:
-
Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells):
- Biconcave disc shape, no nucleus
- Function in gas transport, particularly oxygen
-
Leukocytes (White Blood Cells):
- Larger, with nucleus
- Function in immunity
-
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.