CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Introduction To Connective Tissue

Connective tissue forms a framework upon which
epithelial tissue rests and within which nerve tissue
and muscle tissue are embedded. (Mechanical support)

Blood vessels and nerves travel through connective

tissue. (Communication and transport)
 Consists of:
- individual cells scattered within an
extracellular matrix
- Not directly attached to one
another
Components Of Connective Tissue

Most common CT cells

Fibroblasts
Adipocytes
Mast cells, macrophages & lymphocytes
Matrix of CT
Ground substance
Fibers
Fibroblasts
Resident cell
Secretes collagen & other
element of the extracellular
matrix
Essential for normal
development & repair
Histology characteristic
Nuclei appear dense,
flattened or spindle
shaped
Resting cell have little
cytoplasm (“naked
nuclei”)
active during growth,
quiescent in adult stage.

Active cell appear larger

than resting cell

Resting cell retain ability

to become active and to
multiply when necessary
such as during healing
after injury

Substance of the scar is

collagen-deposited to
replace damaged tissue.
Adipocyte
Large cell

Contain lipid droplets

Function : as warehouse for reserve energy

Assist thermoregulation

Offer some cushioning capacity (around

kidneys & behind eyeballs)
Types of adipocyte

Unilocular adipose tissue (yellowish

colour)
Multilocular adipose tissue (brownish
colour)
Unilocular adipose tissue
Composed of cells
that when completely
developed contain one
large central droplet of
yellow fat in their
cytoplasm

Dominant in adult

Distribution depending
on age & sex
Characteristics
Speherical when isolated,
polyhedral when closely
packed

50-150 micrometer
diameter

Showed signet ring cell

Thick cytoplasm contain

golgi complex,
mitochonria, etc
Multilocular Adipose tissue
Brown colour due to both
large number of blood
capillaries in tissue &
numerous mitochondria in the
cells.
Limited distribution(more
abundant in hibernating
animal)
In infants it is important
mainly in the first months of
postnatal life.
Produce heat & protects
newborn against cold.
Characteristics
Polygonal & smaller than
cells of unilocular.

Cytoplasm-many lipid
droplets of various size

Sperical & central nucleus

Numerous mitochondria
Macrophage
Derived from bone
marrow precursor
which producing
monocytes that
circulate in the
blood.
Across the wall of
venules &
capillaries to
penetrate the CT,
matured into
macrophage.
Characteristics
> size of fibroblast, more
cytoplasm
Numerous lysosomes
(breaking down ingested
material)
mobile(amoeboid
movement)
Long living cells
Specialname at special
region (e.g. Kupffer cells in
liver, microglial in CNS,
langerhans in skin &
osteoclasts in bone tissue.
When there is an infection that
requires reinforcement, monocytes
can increase the macrophage
population many fold.
Macrophages can gather and fuse
into giant cells at a site of damage
or foreign material.
Mast Cells
Secretory alarm cells.
They release chemical
signals when been
disturbed
The chemical release
will diffuse through the
surrounding ground
substance & trigger the
process of inflammation
Characteristics
Small individual cells, scattered rather widely in CT
Oval to round shaped
Nucleus -spherical shape & centrally located
Cytoplasm of mast cells is packed with secretory
vesicles
Granules contain histamine, heparin & other
chemical mediators whose release signals a
number of physiological defense responses
Lymphocytes
Small cells with round nuclei
& minimal cytoplasm.
Circulate throughout the
body moving freely from
blood to ordinary CT
Manufacture antibodies
Antibodies may either
secreted or bound to the
lymphocyte membrane.
Plasma cells are
differentiated lymphocytes
which are specialized to
manufacture & secrete
relatively large amounts of
antibody.