Histology of Connective Tissue
Dr. Madhuri
A middle-aged adult presented to the
physician with:
• Hyperextensible joints of digits
• Skin fold stretches 5cms
• Difficulty in walking
Pt had a positive family history of similar
problems in his parents.
What could be the problem?
1. Define and classify connective tissue (CT) , describe
the components of CT (AN 66.1)
2. Identify loose CT, dense regular & irregular CT &
adipose tissue (AN 66.2)
Definition
“Connective tissues are a group of
tissues which connects or binds other
tissues in the body”
Characteristics
Collagen
• Cells widely spaced fibers
Elastic
fibers
• Predominant extracellular
material (matrix) Mesenchymal
cell
Macrophage
• Development – Adipocyte (fat cell)
mesoderm, neural crest
(head region) Extracellular matrix = Ground substance + Fibers
Functions
• Support Structural & Mechanical
Tensile strength and Elasticity
• Packing Fills spaces, Shape to the organ
• Storage Adipose tissue: energy
Loose areolar CT: water & Electrolytes
• Transport Medium for Nutrients & Metabolic wastes
• Repair Fibroblasts: matrix and fibres
• Defense Cells: Phagocytosis or Antibodies
Components
Cells Matrix
Ground substance FIBERS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Components
Cells Matrix
Ground
Fixed Wandering substance Fibers
Fibroblasts Macrophage Collagen
Proteoglycans GAG /MPS
Mast cells
Adipocytes Elastic
SO4
Plasma cells
Persistent
mesenchymal Pigment cells Non SO4 Reticular
cells
Eosinophil
Neutrophil
Cells of connective tissue
Matrix (Ground Substance)
• Transparent, semi-fluid gel with high water content
• Permits diffusion of oxygen and nutrients between the
blood vessels and adjacent tissues
• Major components of the ground substance are the
proteoglycans, glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans
Fibers
1. Collagen fibers – contain collagen
which gives the fibers flexibility and
strength
2. Elastic fibers – contain elastin more
elastic than collagen but not as strong
3. Reticular fibers – thin, highly
branched collagenous fibers that
provide framework and support to the
organ
Collagen Elastic Reticular
Sites To provide strength; To provide elasticity; To provide
tendon, ligament etc. lig nuche, vocal cords, support; spleen,
lungs liver, lymph nodes,
kidney, BM
Type I Collagen: main structural collagen. Found
in skin, tendons, ligaments, fascia, aponeuroses,
meninges and bone
Type II Collagen: hyaline cartilage, vitreous body
Type III Collagen: reticular fibres
Type IV Collagen: basement membrane, lens capsule
Production of defective collagen fibres
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Hypermobility of joints of
digits
• Difficulty in walking
• Skin fold stretches
• Severe bruising
• ↓ in Vitamin C → Scurvy
Classification of connective tissue
1. Location
2. Proportion of components
3. Variations in components
• Types of cells
• Types of fibres
• Nature ground subs
Connective tissue
Location Ordinary Specialized
Cartilage
GS> Fi, Cells Loose Dense Fibres, Cell> GS Bone
Blood
Areolar Regular Irregular
Adipose Tendon
Reticular Subcutaneous
Ligament tissue
Aponeurosis
Loose areolar connective tissue
• Loosely arranged fibres with large
spaces in between cells
• Allows diffusion of metabolites
• Enables the movement of skin over
deep fascia
• LOCATION : Around muscles, vessels
and nerves
Edema
• Accumulation of excess tissue fluid -
• colloid osmotic and hydrostatic pressure difference
• Excessive accumulation of GAGs in the matrix - myxedema
21
Adipose tissue
• Adipocytes - specialised cells, store fat
Syn: Lipocytes, Fat cells
• Found singly or in clusters in loose CT
• Cytoplasm - reduced to a small rim around In H&E sections, the lipid droplet is
removed during tissue processing
the periphery by the lipid droplet
• Nucleus is oval and compressed against
the cell membrane by the lipid droplet -
signet ring appearance
White adipose tissue Brown adipose tissue
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com-adipocytes-fat-cells-conta https://www.google.com/url.med.yale.edu_adipocytes.php
in-large-lipid-droplet.jpg
B. Dense Connective Tissue
Regular Irregular
• Consists of parallel bundles of • Bundles run in different direction
collagenous fibers
• Found in inner portion of skin
• Found in tendons & ligaments
• Binds organs together
Dense regular connective tissue (collagenous)
White fibrous tissue
• Fibers are arranged in parallel array
and are densely packed to provide
maximum strength
• Elongated fibroblast nuclei can be
seen between the fibres
• Small quantity of intercellular
substance
Examples - Tendons, ligaments and
aponeurosis
Dense regular connective tissue (elastic)
• Bulk of the tissue is made of bundles
of thick, straight elastic fibres - elastic
connective tissue
• Examples:
• ligamentum nuchae (on the
back of the neck),
• vocal ligaments (of the larynx)
• walls of large arteries
Dense irregular CT
• High proportion of collagen bundles
interlacing in various directions
• Withstand stresses on organs or
structures
• Examples- dermis, capsules of glands,
adventitia of large blood vessels
specialized connective tissue
1. Cartilage
• The cell (chondrocytes) lies in
small chambers called lacunae
• Matrix is solid yet flexible
• Lacks direct blood supply, as a
result, it heals slowly
• Forms the skeletal basis of
auricle, lower part of nose, etc
2. Bones
• Most rigid of the connective tissues
• The cells (osteocytes) lie in small
chambers called lacunae
• Matrix-
• Minerals and protein fibers gives bone
rigidity, elasticity and strength
• Two types:
Compact bone
Spongy bone
3. Blood
• Cells suspended in liquid matrix
called plasma
• Cells
1. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) –
carries oxygen
2. White blood cells (leukocytes)
– fights infection
3. Platelets – fragment of giant
cells found in bone marrow
Identify the slide
Loose areolar connective tissue
Identify the slide
Adipose tissue
Identify the slide
Dense irregular CT
Identify the slide
Dense regular connective tissue
What Is Scar?
Thank You
Embryonic CT
Mesenchyme Mucous connective tissue
• Mesenchymal cells-Spindle shaped cells • Gelatin-like ground substance
with processes • Mesenchymal cells
• Sparse fibres and abundant ground • Umbilical cord and vitreous body
substance
Wheater’s functional histology, 6 th edition Ross histology, 7th edition
Mucous connective tissue - Umbilical cord
