Connective tissue is one of the four types of tissue in traditional classifications (the others being epithelial, muscle, and nervous tissue). Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism In biology and medicine epithelium is a tissue composed of cells that line the cavities and surfaces of structures throughout the body Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the Nervous tissue is the fourth major class of Vertebrate tissue. It is largely a category of exclusion rather than one with a precise definition, but all or most tissues in this category are similarly:
- Involved in structure and support.
- Derived from mesoderm, usually. One of the three Germ layers found in the Embryos of Animals more complex than Cnidarians making them Triploblastic.
- Characterized largely by the traits of non-living tissue.
Blood, cartilage, and bone are usually considered connective tissue, but because they differ so substantially from the other tissues in this class, the phrase "connective tissue proper" is commonly used to exclude those three. Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products Cartilage is a type of dense Connective tissue. It is composed of specialized cells called chondrocytes that produce a large amount of extracellular matrix Bones are rigid organs that form part of the Endoskeleton of Vertebrates They function to move support and protect the various organs of the body produce There is also variation in the classification of embryonic connective tissues; on this page they will be treated as a third and separate category.
Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% of the total protein content. Collagen is the main Protein of Connective tissue in Animals and the most abundant protein in Mammals making up about 50% of the whole-body protein [1]
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Classification
The old classification system for connective tissue is proper versus specilized. There has been a new classifications system proposed, however, and it is as follows:
Loose connective tissue
- Areolar
- Adipose
- Reticular
- Regular
- Irregular
- Elastic
Cartilage
- Hyaline
- Fibrocartilage
- Elastic
Other
- Bone
- Blood
- Lymphatics
Connective tissue proper
- Areolar (or loose) connective tissue holds organs and epithelia in place, and has a variety of proteinaceous fibres, including collagen and elastin. Areolar tissue (a type of "loose connective tissue" exhibits loosely organized fibers abundant blood vessels and a lot of seemingly empty space Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Elastin is a Protein in Connective tissue that is elastic and allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting
- Fibrous connective tissue forms ligaments and tendons. In Zootomy, fibrous connective tissue ( FCT) is a type of Connective tissue which has relatively high Tensile strength, due to a relatively high In Anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote three different types of structures Fibrous tissue that connects Bones to other bones A tendon (or sinew) is a tough band of Fibrous connective tissue that usually connects Muscle to Bone and is capable of withstanding tension Its densely packed collagen fibers have great tensile strength.
Specialized connective tissues
- Blood functions in transport. Blood is a specialized Bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's cells such as nutrients and oxygen—and transports Waste products Its extracellular matrix is blood plasma, which transports dissolved nutrients, hormones, and carbon dioxide in the form of bicarbonate. Blood plasma is the Liquid component of Blood, in which the Blood cells are suspended A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment Hormones (from Greek ὁρμή - "impetus" are chemicals released by cells that affect cells in other parts of the body Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single In Inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate ( IUPAC -recommended nomenclature hydrogencarbonate) is an intermediate form in the Deprotonation The main cellular component is red blood cells. Red blood cells are the most common type of Blood cell and the Vertebrate body's principal means of delivering Oxygen to the body tissues via the Blood
- Bone makes up virtually the entire skeleton in adult vertebrates. Bones are rigid organs that form part of the Endoskeleton of Vertebrates They function to move support and protect the various organs of the body produce
- Cartilage makes up virtually the entire skeleton in chondrichthyes. Cartilage is a type of dense Connective tissue. It is composed of specialized cells called chondrocytes that produce a large amount of extracellular matrix Chondrichthyes or cartilaginous fishes are jawed Fish with paired fins paired nostrils scales two-chambered hearts and skeletons made of Cartilage rather In most other vertebrates, it is found primarily in joints, where it provides cushioning. Vertebrates are members of the Subphylum Vertebrata, Chordates with backbones or spinal columns The grouping sometimes includes A joint is the location at which two or more Bones make contact The extracellular matrix of cartilage is composed primarily of collagen. Collagen is the main Protein of Connective tissue in Animals and the most abundant protein in Mammals making up about 50% of the whole-body protein
- Adipose tissue contains adipocytes, used for cushioning, thermal insulation, lubrication (primarily in the pericardium) and energy storage. "Adipose" redirects here For the Doctor Who monster see " Partners in Crime " Adipocytes are the cells that primarily compose Adipose tissue, specialized in storing energy as Fat. Package cushioning is used to help protect fragile items during shipment The term thermal insulation can refer to materials used to reduce the rate of Heat transfer, or the methods and processes used to reduce heat transfer Lubrication is the process or technique employed to reduce wear of one or both surfaces in close proximity and moving relative to each another by interposing a substance called The pericardium is a double-walled sac that contains the Heart and the roots of the Great vessels. In Physics and other Sciences energy (from the Greek grc ἐνέργεια - Energeia, "activity operation" from grc ἐνεργός
- Reticular connective tissue is a network of reticular fibres (fine collagen, type III) that form a soft skeleton to support the lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen. Older textbooks typically refer to elastic and reticular connective tissues as specialized connective tissues The lymphatic system in Vertebrates is a network of conduits that carry a clear fluid called Lymph. A Lymph node ( lɪmf noʊd is an organ consisting of many types of cells and is a part of the Lymphatic system. Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the hollow interior of Bones In adults marrow in large bones produces new Blood cells It constitutes 4% of The spleen is an organ found in all Vertebrate animals In humans the spleen is located in the abdomen of the body where it functions in the destruction of redundant Red )
Embryonic connective tissues
Fiber types
Fiber types as follows:
Disorders of connective tissue
Various connective tissue conditions have been identified; these can be both inherited and environmental. Mesenchyme refers to loosely organized connective tissue present in the embryo regardless of origin Mucous connective tissue (or mucous tissue) is a type of Connective tissue found during Fetal development Collagen is the main Protein of Connective tissue in Animals and the most abundant protein in Mammals making up about 50% of the whole-body protein Elastic fibers (or yellow fibers) are bundles of Proteins ( Elastin) found in Connective tissue and produced by Fibroblasts and Reticular fibers or reticulin is a histological term used to describe a type of Structural fiber composed of Type III collagen.
- Marfan syndrome - a genetic disease causing abnormal fibrillin. Marfan syndrome (or Marfan's syndrome is a genetic disorder of the Connective tissue. Fibrillin is a Glycoprotein, which is essential for the formation of Elastic fibers found in Connective tissue.
- Scurvy - caused by a dietary deficiency in vitamin C, leading to abnormal collagen. Scurvy (NLat scorbutus is a disease resulting from a deficiency of Vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of Collagen in humans Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Collagen is the main Protein of Connective tissue in Animals and the most abundant protein in Mammals making up about 50% of the whole-body protein
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - deficient type III collagen- a genetic disease causing progressive deterioration of collagens, with different EDS types affecting different sites in the body, such as joints, heart valves, organ walls, arterial walls, etc. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of rare Genetic disorders affecting humans caused by a defect in Collagen synthesis
- Loeys-Dietz syndrome - a genetic disease related to Marfan syndrome, with an emphasis on vascular deterioration. Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a recently-discovered Autosomal dominant genetic Syndrome which has many features similar to Marfan syndrome, but which is
- Pseudoxanthoma elasticum - an autosomal recessive hereditary disease, caused by calcification and fragmentation of elastic fibres, affecting the skin, the eyes and the cardiovascular system. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE is a Genetic disease that causes fragmentation and mineralization of elastic fibers in some tissues
- Systemic lupus erythematosus - a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory disorder of probable autoimmune etiology, occurring predominantly in young women. Systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE or lupus,) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can be fatal though with recent medical advances fatalities are becoming
- Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) - caused by insufficient production of good quality collagen to produce healthy, strong bones. Osteogenesis imperfecta ( OI and sometimes known as Brittle Bone Disease) is a genetic bone disorder
- Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva - disease of the connective tissue, caused by a defective gene which turns connective tissue into bone. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP is an extremely rare disease of the Connective tissue. Bones are rigid organs that form part of the Endoskeleton of Vertebrates They function to move support and protect the various organs of the body produce
- Spontaneous pneumothorax - collapsed lung, believed to be related to subtle abnormalities in connective tissue.
- Sarcoma - a neoplastic process originating within connective tissue. A sarcoma (from the Greek 'sarx' meaning "flesh" is a Cancer of the connective or supportive tissue ( Bone, Cartilage, Fat
Staining of connective tissue
For microscopic viewing, the majority of the connective tissue staining techniques color tissue fibers in contrasting shades. Collagen may be differentially stained by any of the following techniques:
- Van Gieson's stain
- Masson's Trichrome stain
- Mallory's Aniline Blue stain
- Azocarmine stain
- Krajian's Aniline Blue stain
References
- ^ "Mapping the Ligand-binding Sites and Disease-associated Mutations on the Most Abundant Protein in the Human, Type I Collagen" . Van Gieson's Stain is a mixture of Picric Acid and Acid Fuchsin. Masson's trichrome is a three-color staining protocol used in Histology.
External links
- connective+tissue at eMedicine Dictionary
- t_12/12810256 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Connective Tissue
- Overview at kumc.edu
- UIUC Histology Subject 230
- Connective tissue atlas at uiowa.edu
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