Connective Tissue Basics
This is the most abundant type of tissue in the body
What is connective tissue?
This loose connective tissue binds organs, cushions, and supports immune function
What is areolar tissue?
These are the mature cells found in cartilage
What are chondrocytes?
The function of erythrocytes in blood.
What is oxygen transport?
The type of muscle tissue that is voluntary and striated
What is skeletal muscle?
The functions of connective tissue
what is provides structure, binds and connects tissues, cushions and protects organs, stores energy and minerals, transports substances, and helps with insulation?
this type of dense connective tissue forms tendons and ligaments.
What is dense regular connective tissue?
The tough connective tissue found in intervertebral discs and knee joints
What is fibrocartilage?
The atypical aspect of blood compared to other connective tissues
What is its fluid matrix (plasma)?
The muscle type that lines hollow organs and helps with peristalsis
What is smooth muscle?
The three main protein fibers found in connective tissue
what are collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers?
Adipose tissue primarily serves these three functions
What are energy storage, insulation, and cushioning?
This structure surrounds cartilage and contains chondroblasts for growth and repair.
What is the perichondrium?
These fibers form a mesh to reinforce blood clots
What are fibrin fibers?
The contractile proteins responsible for muscle contraction.
What are actin and myosin?
This gel-like material fills spaces between cells, contains water and proteins, and supports diffusion
What is ground substance?
This specialized connective tissue provides flexible support in organs like the liver and spleen.
What is reticular tissue?
The structural units of compact bone that allow it to bear weight
What are osteons?
The main function of blood.
What is transporting nutrients, waste, oxygen, and other substances?
The nervous system responsible for controlling involuntary muscle contractions.
What is the autonomic nervous system?
The term for immature "builder" cells that produce extracellular matrix components.
What are blast cells?
The major difference between dense regular and dense irregular connective tissue.
What is fiber arrangement? (Regular is parallel, irregular is random)
These are the small cavities where osteocytes reside.
What are lacunae?
These blood cells defend the body against infection.
What are leukocytes (white blood cells)?
The specialized structures in cardiac muscle that allow for rapid electrical signaling.
What are intercalated discs?