Connective Tissue Lecture Objectives
• List the functions of connective tissue.
• Describe the structure, function, and
appearance of collagen (types I, II, and III)
and elastic fibers.
• Explain what ground substance is and what
it looks like.
• List the four types of connective tissue
proper, describe what each looks like, and
explain how and where each is used in the
body.
Connective Tissue Lecture Outline
• Introduction
• Extracellular matrix of connective tissue
• Cells of connective tissue
• Classification and examples of connective
tissue
Introduction
Tissue Basic Concepts
There are ONLY FOUR basic tissues!
• Epithelium
• Connective tissue
• Muscle (Note: Connects bone to bone – LIGAMENT
• Nerve Connects muscle to bone – TENDONS
All tissues are composed of: On a histology slide, the adipocytes appear empty
• Cells with a thin rim of cytoplasm close to the basal
• Extracellular matrix (stuff between cells) lamina. This is described as "signet ring"
appearance of the unilocular tissue. This is because
What Makes Connective Tissue Unique? the intracellular fat droplet gets dissolved when
• Extracellular matrix (ECM) is the major dyed with standard histology staining methods
component of most types of connective (H&E staining).
tissue. TUNICA INTIMA – is the outermost part of ouyr
• Cells are a minor component. blood vessel which is a connective tissue )
• The other basic tissues (epithelium, muscle,
nerve) are fundamentally different in that
they are composed mainly of cells.
(Note: Adhesive proteins, structural proteins,
proteoglycans)
(Note: Ecto – give rise to epidermis and nervous
system
Meso – Give rise to mesenchyme(gelatinous
tissue), Mesenchyme give rise to Bone, Blood,
Muscle
Endoderm – Give rise to mucus membrane lining
digestive and respiratory tracts, digestive glands)
Extracellular matrix of connective tissue
Composition of Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
Protein fibers
• Collagen fibers
• Elastic fibers
Ground substance
• Glycosaminoglycans
Connective Tissue Development • Proteoglycans
• Connective tissue develops from a precursor • Glycoproteins
tissue called mesenchyme (which arises
from mesoderm). (Note: ground substance, an amorphous gel-like
• Mesenchyme is an undifferentiated tissue substance present in the composition of the various
present only in early embryonic life. connective tissues.
• Mesenchyme gives rise to all connective withstand compressional forces)
tissues plus vessels and smooth muscle
cells. Two Main Protein Fibers in ECM
• 1. Collagen fibers
(Note: Development begins as a fertilized egg, 16 • Flexible, non-extensible
day old embryo • Over 20 types!
1. Tissue appears when when these cells start • Made of polypeptide chains
to organize themselves into layers (Ecto, 2. Elastic fibers
Meso, Endo)) • Thinner than collagen, and stretchier
• Made of elastin and fibrillin
(Note: Collagen- Major protein in the extracellular
matrix, found in skin, hair, bone, tnedons and nails,
can be found anywhere
Before they have said that fibroblast secretes
collagen but now the concept has changed
epithelial tissue secretes collagen.
COLLAGEN MRNA – ribosomes – PREPROCOLLAGEN
(leader sequence) - RER – PROCOLLAGEN - )
(Note: Achoring fibrils)
(Note: Each collagen is made up of triple helix.
Collagen fibers, sulod is collagen fibril, then
microfibril which is a triple helix. Each chain has
amino acid, and Each set has three amino acids
(Glycine, Proline, Lysine)
Type VII is the anchoring fibers in the basement
membrane)
(Note: Lungs, arteries, dermis)
Ground substance
• A viscous gel that fills spaces between cells
and fibers in connective tissue.
• Functions: binds water, fills space, acts as a
barrier to infection, binds fibers and anchors
cells to ECM.
• Not well seen in histologic sections (looks
clear).
• Main constituents: glycosaminoglycans,
proteoglycans, glycoproteins.
Classification and examples of connective tissue
A Couple Important Glycoproteins
Fibronectin
• Present throughout connective tissue
• Mediates normal cell adhesion and
migration
Laminin
• Present in basal lamina
• Helps epithelial cells stick to basal lamina
Cells of connective tissue
