GENERAL

CONNECTIVE
TISSUE
Ted Lane
September
2007
 CONNECTIVE TISSUE IN THE BODY

GENERAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE

AREOLAR (LOOSE) - under epithelium and between muscle layers

DENSE IRREGULAR – in dermis of skin and between muscle layers

DENSE REGULAR - making up tendons and ligaments

SPECIALIZED CONNECTIVE TISSUE

RETICULAR - in bone marrow and lymph nodes
CARTILAGE – in joints, between vertebrae, ear,larynx, nose
ADIPOSE - fat deposits
BONE - body skeleton
 GENERAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE
AREOLAR (LOOSE)
found under epithelium and between muscle layers
adhesion, supporting nerves and blood vessels
DENSE IRREGULAR
found in dermis of skin and between muscle layers
adhesion, supporting nerves and blood vessels
DENSE REGULAR
makes up tendons and ligaments
attaching muscles to bones and bones to bones
RETICULAR
found in bone marrow and lymph nodes
scaffold-like structural support for blood
cells ADIPOSE
fat deposits
thermal insulation, cushioning, energy reserves
 
 Epithelium is made up of cells; but connective tissue
consists mostly of extracellular material (matrix),
manufactured and secreted by the cells.
The cells end up scattered throughout that matrix!
ALL CONNECTIVE TISSUE
is made up of the same components:
CELLS
fibroblasts, chondroblasts(cytes), or osteoblasts(cytes)
MATRIX
FIBERS
collagen fibers:strong, white, in bundles
elastin fibers: elastic, yellow, solitary, branched
GROUND SUBSTANCE
proteoglycans: modified polysaccharides attached to protein
hyaluronic acid: long chains of sugar acids
CONNECTIVE TISSUES DIFFER BY PROPORTIONS AND
ARRANGEMENTS OF 2 TYPES OF FIBERS, AND BY SPECIFIC
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GROUND SUBSTANCE MOLECULES.
TRANSIENT CELLS ARE OFTEN VISIBLE
IN LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE -
USUALLY WHITE BLOOD CELLS
OR THEIR DERIVIATIVES:
MACROPHAGES phagocytosis
LYMPHOCYTES immune response
MAST CELLS immune response, histamine
secretion

cell nuclei – basophilic

collagen fibers – acidophilic
ground substance – no stain
LOW POWER VIEW OF AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE
LOW POWER VIEW OF AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

MAST
CELLS

FIBROBLAST
S

GROUND
MACROPHAG SUBSTANCE
ES
along
fibers

ELASTIC
FIBERS
COLLAGEN
BUNDLES
HIGH POWER VIEW OF AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 HIGH POWER VIEW OF AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

MAST CELL
with histamine
granules

FIBROBLAST
S

COLLAGEN
BUNDLES ELASTIC MACROPHAG
FIBERS ES
associated with fibers

GROUND
SUBSTANCE
 LOW POWER VIEW
DENSE IRREGULAR
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
 LOW POWER VIEW
DENSE IRREGULAR
CONNECTIVE TISSUE

FIBROBLAST
S basophilic
RANDOMLY ARRANGED
FIBERS mostly
collagen
acidophilic

GROUND
SUBSTANCE non-
staining

blood vessels
LOW POWER VIEW OF SKIN

epidermis

dermis
 LOW POWER VIEW OF SKIN

epidermis

dermis

DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE

FIBROBLAST TISSUE
MATRIX:
S MOSTLY RANDOMLY
ARRANGED COLLAGEN FIBERS
MEDIUM POWER VIEW OF SKIN

epidermis
 MEDIUM POWER VIEW OF SKIN

epidermis

FIBROBLAST
S

DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE

TISSUE
MATRIX:
MOSTLY RANDOMLY
ARRANGED COLLAGEN
FIBERS
HIGH POWER VIEW OF DERMIS

fat cell
HIGH POWER VIEW OF DERMIS

DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE

TISSUE

FIBROBLAST
S

MATRIX:
MOSTLY RANDOMLY
ARRANGED COLLAGEN
FIBERS

fat cell
HIGH POWER VIEW OF DERMIS
HIGH POWER VIEW OF DERMIS

FIBROBLAST
S

MATRIX:
MOSTLY RANDOMLY
ARRANGED COLLAGEN
FIBERS
DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE
TISSUE
LOW POWER VIEW OF A LIGAMENT
LOW POWER VIEW OF A LIGAMENT

DENSE REGULAR CONNECTIVE

TISSUE
MATRIX:
MAINLY
PARALLEL BUNDLES
OF COLLAGEN FIBERS

LESS DENSE
AREA (LESS
COLLAGEN)

FIBROBLAST
S
HIGH POWER VIEW OF A LIGAMENT
HIGH POWER VIEW OF A LIGAMENT

DENSE REGULAR CONNECTIVE

TISSUE
MATRIX:
MAINLY
PARALLEL BUNDLES
OF COLLAGEN FIBERS

FIBROBLAST
S
LOW POWER VIEW OF BONE MARROW
SILVER STAIN
LOW POWER VIEW OF BONE MARROW
SILVER STAIN

INDISTINGUISHABLE
MASSES OF BLOOD
CELLS AND TYPE 3
COLLAGEN
HIGH POWER VIEW OF BONE
MARROW SILVER STAIN
 LOW POWER VIEW OF BONE MARROW
SILVER STAIN

BLOOD STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK

CELLS OF TYPE 3 COLLAGEN
FIBERS
FIBROBLASTS
(RETICULOCYTES)
NOT DISTINGUISHABLE
FROM MASS OF BLOOD
CELLS
LOW POWER VIEW PART OF TRACHEAL WALL
LOW POWER VIEW PART OF TRACHEAL WALL

cartilage ring

ADIPOCYTE
S
ADIPOSE
TISSUE

muscle
HIGH POWER VIEW OF ADIPOSE TISSUE
 HIGH POWER VIEW OF ADIPOSE TISSUE

large droplet
adipocyte nucleus
(peripheral)
of fat

filling cell
ADIPOCYT
E
HIGH POWER VIEW OF DERMIS
 HIGH POWER VIEW OF DERMIS

dense irregular connective tissue

adipocyte nucleus
(peripheral)

large droplet

of fat

filling cell

ADIPOCYT
E
REVIEW LOCATIONS AND FUNCTION

GENERAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE

AREOLAR (LOOSE)
found under epithelium and between muscle layers
adhesion, supporting nerves and blood vessels
DENSE IRREGULAR
found in dermis of skin and between muscle layers
adhesion, supporting nerves and blood vessels
DENSE REGULAR
makes up tendons and ligaments
attaching muscles to bones and bones to bones
RETICULAR
found in bone marrow and lymph nodes
scaffold-like structural support for blood
cells ADIPOSE
fat deposits
thermal insulation, cushioning, energy reserves
 SPECIALIZED
CONNECTIVE
TISSUE
CARTILAGE AND
BONE
TO FOLLOW LATER