Histology > Connective Tissue > Flashcards

Connective Tissue Flashcards

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1
Q

what are connective tissue cells derived from?

A
  • undifferentiated mesenchymal cells

- can derive from haematopoetic stem cell line

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2
Q

describe the structure of connective tissue cells

A
  • scaffold of extracellular fibres

- jelly-like matrix

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3
Q

what do connective tissue cells contain?

A
  • collagen

- elastin

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4
Q

what makes connective tissues amorphous?

A
  • high molecular weight
  • strongly hydrophilic
  • negatively charged
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5
Q

what cells are in connective tissues?

A
  • fibroblasts

- adipose cells

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6
Q

what are the visible fibres in connective tissues?

A
  • collagen
  • elastin
  • reticulin
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7
Q

what does the ground substance (hydrophilic jelly) of connective tissues contain?

A
  • proteoglycans
  • glycosaminoglycans
  • invisible fibres (e.g. laminin, fibronectin)
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8
Q

what does the ground substance (hydrophilic jelly) of connective tissues contain?

A
  • proteoglycans
  • glycosaminoglycans
  • invisible fibres (e.g. laminin, fibronectin)
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9
Q

what is fibrous connective tissue?

A

contains large numbers of fibres such as collagen, elastin or reticulin

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10
Q

what is fatty connective tissue?

A

contains mainly fat cells with intervening blood vessels (particularly capillaries)

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11
Q

what is hard connective tissue?

A

various forms of bone

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12
Q

what is soft connective tissue?

A
  • flexible and gel-like

- interspersed between major tissue elements

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13
Q

what are the types of soft connective tissue?

A
  • fibrous

- fatty

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14
Q

what are the types of fibrous connective tissue?

A
  • loose

- dense

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15
Q

what are the types of fatty connective tissue?

A
  • white

- brown

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16
Q

what are the types of hard connective tissue?

A
  • cartilage

- bone

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17
Q

describe the structure of collagen

A
  • individual collagen fibrils consisting of overlapping linear strands of tropocollagen
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18
Q

what is tropocollagen?

A

3 linear polypeptide chains wound together in alpha helix

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19
Q

what synthesises tropocollagen?

A

fibroblasts

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20
Q

where is type I collagen?

A
  • skin
  • tendons
  • ligaments
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21
Q

where is type II collagen?

A

cartilage

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22
Q

where is type III collagen?

A
  • liver
  • bone marrow
  • spleen
  • kidney
  • lymph nodes
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23
Q

where is type IV collagen?

A

basement membranes

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24
Q

where is type V collagen?

A

placenta

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25
does collagen stain with H&E?
yes
26
how is collagen identified histologically?
- variable thickness and length - often run in bundles - no nuclei
27
what is reticulin?
type III collagen
28
what is the function of reticulin?
supporting scaffold in organs
29
how is reticulin identified histologically?
- forms branched fibres instead of linear | - not visible on H&E (silver)
30
what is the histological difference between loose and dense connective tissue?
dense: - closer spaced and thicker collagen ribres - may be irregular
31
what are the histological similarities between loose and dense connective tissue?
- fibroblasts | - unstained ground substance between fibroblasts
32
what does elastic tissue contain?
- fine fibres | - sheets of elastin
33
what is elastin produced by?
fibroblasts
34
does elastin stain on H&E?
yes | - pink
35
what is the histological difference between elastin and muscle cells/collagen?
- stains more deeply | - can produce glassy appearance
36
what is the histological difference between white and brown adipose tissue?
white: single fat globule in each cell brown: multiple globules of fat in each cell
37
what is the functional difference between white and brown adipose tissue?
white: insulation, shock absorber brown: generates heat (thermoregulation)
38
where is brown adipose tissue found?
across shoulders and down back of newborns
39
describe the structure of cartilage
- dense glycosaminoglycan-rich matrix containing variable amounts of collagen and elastic tissue - surrounded by perichondrium
40
what is perichondrium?
fibrocollaginous capsule
41
what are the properties of cartilage?
- flexible - compressible - hard-wearing
42
where are chondroblasts found and what do they mature into?
- matrix of cartilage | - chondrocytes
43
what does the perichondrium contain?
undifferentiated progenitor cells capable of differentiating into chondroblasts
44
what is found in the extracellular matrix of cartilage?
- glycosaminoglycans | - proteoglycans
45
give 2 examples of extracellular fibres
- collagen | - elastin
46
does cartilage have its own blood supply?
no
47
what are the main types of cartilage?
- hyaline - elastic - fibrous
48
where is hyaline cartilage found?
- synovial joints - articular surfaces - 'rings' of trachea - cartilages of larynx
49
does hyaline cartilage stain on H&E?
very poorly
50
where is elastic cartilage found?
- pinna of the ear | - epiglottis
51
what is the structure of elastic cartilage?
irregularly arranged visible fibres of elastin in matrix
52
what is the structure of hyaline cartilage?
- GAG-rich matrix that appears glassy | - fine fibrils of collagen and elastin
53
is elastic cartilage visible on H&E?
yes | - more visible under silver stain (highlights elastic fibres)
54
where is fibrous cartilage found?
- annulus fibrosus - pubic symphysis - inter-vertebral discs
55
what is the structure of fibrous cartilage?
visible collagen fibres (often in distinct bands) in matrix
56
what is synovium?
connective tissue lining the inside of a synovial joint capsule
57
how many layers of synovial cells is typically in synovium?
1-4
58
what are type A synovial cells?
phagocytes
59
what are type B synovial cells?
- rich in RER | - secrete synovial fluid
60
what shape are synovial cells?
variable | - squamous to cuboidal
61
what are the types of muscle?
- visceral (smooth) - voluntary (skeletal) - cardiac
62
where is visceral muscle found?
- arterial walls - intestinal walls - airways of lungs
63
where is skeletal muscle found?
- skeletal muscles - larynx - diaphragm
64
where is cardiac muscle found?
- heart | - base of great vessels
65
what are other contractile cells?
- pericytes - myo-fibroblasts - myo-epithelial cells
66
where are pericytes found?
alongside some small blood vessels (e.g. veins, venules)
67
what is the function of myo-fibroblasts?
involved in scar formation
68
what is the function of myo-epithelial cells?
- assist expression of milk during lactation
Histology
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