Connective Tissues:

General connective tissue,

specialized connective tissue
• Dr. A. Ibrahim.
• Department of Anatomy
• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• University of Ilorin

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 • At the end of the lecture, students should be
able to:
1. Characterize connective tissues based
on morphology.
2. Describe the components of
connective tissue.
Lecture 3. Describe different types of connective
expectations tissues.
4. State the functions of connective
tissues in relation to their morphology
and sites where they are found.
5. Mention the disorders of connective
tissues and the probable causes of the
disorders.

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Connective Tissue: Overview

• Connective tissue comprises

• a diverse group of cells embedded in a tissue-specific
extracellular matrix.
• Different type of connective tissue are responsible for a variety
of functions.
• Classification of connective tissue is based on
• the composition and organization of its cellular &
extracellular components
• functions.

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 Structure
• Tissue cells are widely separated by
extracellular matrix
• Can be solid, semisolid, or liquid
• Matrix of connective tissue determine its
Connective properties

Tissue: Function
• Binds structures together

Overview • Provides support & protection

• Fills spaces
• Produces blood cells
• Defensive functions
• Barrier, Engulf bacteria, Antibodies
• Stores fat
• For energy, insulation, organ protection
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Components of
Connective Tissue
• Cells
• Inter/extra-cellular substance
or matrix
• Fibers
• Ground substance

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Cells of Connective
Tissue
Fixed/Resident cells
• Fibroblasts
• Myofibroblasts
• Macrophages (Histiocytes)
• Adipose cells
• Mast cells
• Undifferentiated mesenchymal cells

Wandering cells
• Lymphocytes
• Plasma cells
• Neutrophils
• Eosinophils
• Basophils
• Monocytes
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 Connective Tissue Fibers:
Matrix Fibers
• Collagen Fibers:
• Large fibers made of the protein collagen
• Typically, the most abundant fibers.
• Promote tissue flexibility.
• Found in tendon, ligaments, dermis, fascia, capsule, sclera,
• Elastic Fibers:
• Intermediate fibers made of the protein elastin.
• Branching fibers that allow for stretch and recoil
• Found in dermis, lung, arteries, organs that expand
• Reticular Fibers/Lymphatic tissue:
• Small delicate, branched fibers that have same chemical
composition of collagen.
• Forms structural framework for organs such as liver, pancreas,
spleen, bone marrow, adipose tissue and lymph nodes.
• Stored and produce white blood cells (part of immune system)
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 Connective Tissue Fibers: Matrix fibers
Collagenous Fibers Elastic Fibers Reticular Fibers
(bundles) (anastomosing bundles) (networks)

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 Connective Tissue Ground Substance:
Matrix Ground Substance

Other ground
Hyaluronic Acid: Chondroitin sulfate:
Substances:
• Complex • Jellylike ground • Dermatin sulfate,
combination of substance of keratin sulfate, and
polysaccharides cartilage, bone, adhesion proteins
and proteins found skin and
in “true” or proper blood vessels.
connective tissue.
 Types of Connective Tissue
Connective tissue proper Specialized connective tissue
• Loose connective tissue • Cartilage**
• Areolar • Hyaline
• Adipose* • Elastic
• Reticular (lymphatic)* • Fibrocartilage
• Dense connective tissue • Bone***
• Dense regular • Compact
• Dense irregular • Spongy
• Elastic * • Blood**
• Haemopoietic tissue…

Embryonic connective tissue:

• Mesenchyme
• Mucous tissue (Wharton’s jelly) 2-13
 • Description:
• Gel-like matrix with all three fiber types;
• Cells: fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, and some
white blood cells.

• Location:
Loose • Widely distributed under epithelia of body, e.g.,
forms lamina propria of mucous membranes;
connective packages organs; surrounds capillaries.

tissue: Areolar • Function:

• wraps and cushions organs.
• its macrophages phagocytize bacteria.
• plays important role in inflammation.
• holds and convey tissue fluid.

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 • Description:
• Matrix as in areolar, but very sparse;
• Closely packed adipocytes, or fat cells, have
nucleus pushed to the side by large fat droplet.
• Types: white, brown
Loose
connective • Location:
• Under skin in the hypodermis; around kidneys
tissue: and eyeballs; within abdomen; in breasts.

Adipose tissue • Function:

• provides reserve food fuel.
• insulates against heat loss.
• supports and protects organs.

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 • Description:
• Network of reticular fibers in a typical loose
ground substance;
• Reticular cells lie on the network.

Loose • Location:
connective • Lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, bone marrow,
tissue: and spleen).

Reticular tissue • Function:

• fibers form a soft internal skeleton (stroma) that
supports other cell types including white blood
cells, mast cells, and macrophages.

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 • Description:
Dense connective tissue: • Primarily parallel collagen fibers.
Dense regular • A few elastic fibers.
• Major cell type is the fibroblast.

• Location:
• Tendons, most ligaments, aponeuroses.

• Function:
• attaches muscles to bones or to
muscles.
• attaches bones to bones.
• withstands great tensile stress when
pulling force is applied in one direction.
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Dense connective tissue: • Description:
• Primarily irregularly arranged collagen fibers.
Dense irregular • Some elastic fibers.
• Major cell type is the fibroblast.

• Location:
• fibrous capsules of organs (e.g., heart valves)
and of joints.
• dermis of the skin.
• submucosa of digestive tract.

• Function:
• able to withstand tension exerted in many
directions.
• provides structural strength.
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Dense connective tissue: • Description:
• Dense regular connective tissue containing
Elastic a high proportion of elastic fibers.

• Location:
• walls of large arteries.
• within certain ligaments associated with
the vertebral column.
• within the walls of the bronchial tubes.

• Function:
• allows recoil of tissue following stretching.
• maintains pulsatile flow of blood through
arteries.
• aids passive recoil of lungs following
inspiration.

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 Specialized connective
tissue: Cartilage
• Jelly-like matrix (chondroitin sulfate) containing collagen
and elastic fibers and chondrocytes surrounded by a
membrane called the perichondrium.
• Unlike other CT, cartilage has NO blood vessels or nerves
except in the perichondrium.
• The strength of cartilage is due to collagen fibers and the
resilience is due to the presence of chondroitin sulfate.
• Chondrocytes occur within spaces in the matrix called
lacunae.
• Types
• Hyaline cartilage, Fibrocartilage, and Elastic cartilage.
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 Cartilage: Hyaline
cartilage
• Description:
• Amorphous (gel-like) but firm matrix.
• Collagen fibers form an imperceptible network.
• Chondroblasts produce the matrix and when mature
(chondrocytes) lie in lacunae.

• Location:
• forms most of the embryonic skeleton.
• covers the ends of long bones in joint cavities.
• forms costal cartilages of the ribs.
• cartilages of the nose, trachea, and larynx.

• Function:
• Supports and reinforces;
• has resilient cushioning properties; resists compressive 2-27
stress.
Cartilage: Elastic
cartilage
• Description:
• Similar to hyaline cartilage, but more elastic fibers
in matrix.
• threadlike network of elastic fibers within
the matrix.

• Location:
• Supports the external ear (pinna), auditory tubes,
epiglottis

• Function:
• maintains the shape of a structure while allowing
great flexibility

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Cartilage:
Fibrocartilage
• Description:
• Matrix similar to but less firm than that in
hyaline cartilage.
• thick collagen fibers predominate.

• Location:
• Intervertebral discs; pubic symphysis; discs
of knee joint.

• Function:
• Tensile strength with the ability to absorb
compressive shock 2-31
 Bone
• Description:
• Hard, calcified matrix containing many collagen fibers.
• Osteocytes lie in lacunae.
• Very well vascularized.

• Location: Bones

• Function:
• bone supports and protects (by enclosing);
• provides levers for the muscles to act on;
• stores calcium and other minerals and fat;
• marrow inside bones is the site for blood cell formation
(hematopoiesis).
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Bone:
Compact bone
• Found in the outer portion of
long bones
• Consists of many cylindrical-
shaped units called osteon.

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Bone: Spongy
bone
• Found on ends of long bone.
• Contains bony bars and plates
called trabeculae separated
by irregular spaces.
• Blood cells are made within
the red marrow found in the
spongy bone.

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Blood
• Description:
• Connective tissue composed of cells suspended in
liquid matrix called plasma.
• Red blood cells (erythrocytes) – carries oxygen
• White blood cells (leukocytes) – fights infection
• Platelets – fragment of giant cells found in bone
marrow

• Location:
• Contained within blood vessels

• Function:
• transport of respiratory gases, nutrients, wastes, and
other substances.
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 Disorders of connective tissue
• Actinic Keratosis or Solar elastosis
• A degenerative skin condition, which mainly affects the collagen
and elastic fibers of the sun exposed area of the body.
• It is a permanent lesion.
• Signs and symptoms include: loose, winkle, dry and sagging skin.
• Treatments: liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, surgical curettage and
chemotherapy.
• Hypertrophic scars and Keloids
• Disorders caused by accumulation of excess amounts of collagen
deposited in the skin by hyperproliferation of fibrobast.
• Often occur after burns, radiation injury, or surgical procedures.
• Hyperrtrophic scars appear raised, are characterized by redness
and usually remain within the margin of the wound and there is
tendency for spontaneous regression over time.
• If the scar tissue grows beyond the boundaries of the original
wound and does not regress, it is called keloid.
• Treatment: Cryosurgery, laser surgery and steroid injections
 Disorders of connective
tissue
• Tendinosis
• Degenerative disease that occurs within the substance of
a tendon.
• Associated with age, overexertion, or both
• Collagen disorganization, decrease fiber diameter, and
increased mucoid substance.
• Collagen microtears, focal hypercellularity, vascular
proliferation, focal necrosis with calcification.
• Treatment: pain relieve, rest, physical therapy, NSAID,
corticosteroids, and surgical repair when necessary.
• Whipple Disease
• A mustisystemic disease caused by an infection of the
bacillus Tropheryma whippleii.
• Primarily affects the small intestine
• Abdominal pain, flatulence, malabsorption, and
diarrhea
• Increase macrophages in the lamina propria
• Treatment : antibiotic; penicillin, streptomycin
Disorders of connective
tissue
• Marfan Syndrome (Cystic Medial Degeneration)
• An autosomal dominant disorder caused by
an FBN 1 gene mutation.
• Affects the formation of elastic fibers,
particularly those found in aorta, heart, eye,
and skin.
• Signs and symptoms:
• tall stature with long limbs and long,
thin fingers
• Enlargement of the base of the heart
accompanied by aortic regurgitation
• There is increased probability of dissecting
aortic aneurysym and prolapse of the mitral
valve.
 Disorders of connective tissue
• Scurvy:
• dietary deficiency in Vitamin C leading to abnormal collagen.
• Ehlers-danlos syndrome:
• a genetic disease causing progressive deterioration of collagens affecting
different sites in the body such as joints, heart valves & arterial walls
• Osteogenesis imperfecta ( brittle bone disease):
• insufficient production of good quality collagen to produce healthy, strong
bones.
• Spontaneous pneumothorax:
• collapsed lungs, believed to be related to subtle abnormalities in
connective tissue.
• Obesity: Hypertrophic obesity
• Cirrhosis 2-42
QUESTIONS?

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What matters most is how you see yourself …

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&
All the best