Structure and Function of Cells and Tissues BIOM1004/1904

Connective Tissue
Part 1
Dr Louise Dunford

Learning outcomes
Define the four types of tissue in the
human body
Describe the composition of connective
tissue
Understand the variation in types of
connective tissue
Identify histological images from different
types of connective tissue

Four Types of Tissue

Muscle
Nervous
Epithelial
Connective

Four Types of Tissue

Muscle:
Body movement
Specialised for contraction
Nervous:
Transmit messages
Electrical impulses

Four Types of Tissue

Epithelial:
Protection
Secretion & absorption
Connective:
Supports, connects and
separates tissues & organs

Why?
Doulou

Types of Connective Tissue

Connecti
ve Tissue

All images Eraxion

Connective Tissue
Provides structural and metabolic support
for other tissues and organs throughout the
body
Far more diverse than muscle, nervous and
epithelial tissue
Made up of cells, fibres, and ground
substance

Cells

Connective tissue generally has a low

cell density

Most common are fibroblasts; secrete

extra-cellular matrix (ECM) in most
tissues

Altogen.com

Chondrocytes (cartilage) & osteocytes

(bone) secrete ECM
Wellcome
Images

Cells

Adipocytes storage
and metabolism of fat

Immune cells e.g.

mast cells, tissue
macrophages, all white
blood cells, antibodysecreting plasma cells

Fibres
Extra cellular matrix (ECM) is
made up of organised bundles
of fibrous proteins and ground
substance
Fibres of connective tissue
Collagen
Elastin

Fibres: Collagen

Most abundant protein in the

human body; 27 types of collagen

Type I dermis of skin, tendons,

ligaments, bone
Type III reticulin; liver, bone
marrow, lymphoid organs
Type IV basement membranes

Fibres: Elastin
Arranged as fibres or
discontinuous sheets
Properties: stretching and
elastic recoil
Skin, lung, blood vessels,
bladder

Martin Luther University

Ground Tissue

Amorphous transparent material

semi-fluid gel

Mixture of long, unbranched

polysaccharide chains
glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
Associated with tissue fluid
mediates passage of molecules
through the tissue

Types of connective tissue

Loose connective tissue
Dense connective tissue
Elastic connective tissue
Reticular connective tissue
Adipose tissue
Cartilage
Bone
Blood

Loose Connective Tissue

Location: everywhere;
support and elasticity
e.g. subcutaneous
tissue; around nerves,
blood vessels, muscles

Collagen fibres

Nuclei of
fibroblasts

Elastin fibres

Function: support;
reservoir for fluid &
salts

Dense Connective Tissue

Location: Tendons,
ligaments, dermis of
skin
Function: support;
transmission of
mechanical forces

Nuclei of
fibroblasts

Collagen fibres

Elastic Connective Tissue

Location: lung tissue,
large arteries, skin,
bladder
Function: confers
elasticity
Elastic fibres

Reticular Connective
Tissue
Location: Framework
of liver, lymph nodes,
spleen
Function: support
Reticular fibres

Adipose Tissue
Location:
subcutaneous layer,
pads around some
organs
Function: support,
insulation, energy
storage

Nuclei

Lipid
droplets

Cartilage
Location: ends of bones,
ear, oesophagus
Function: flexible
support

Lacuna

Chondrocytes

Bone
Location: skeletal
structure

Lacunae

Function: support,
protection, calcium
reservoir
Haversian
canal

Blood
Red blood
cells

Location: blood
vessels, heart

Neutrophil
Lymphocyte

Function: transport of
nutrients, oxygen,
hormones, waste

Quiz

1. Bone
2. Reticular connective tissue
3. Cartilage
4. Adipose tissue
5. Dense connective tissue

Resources
Stevens, A. & Lowe, J. Human Histology. 3rd edition,
Gower/Mosby, (2004)
Young, B. & Heath, J.W. Wheaters Functional
Histology. 5th edition, Churchill-Livingstone (2008)
For some fantastic images of cells, fibres etc:
http://wellcomeimages.org/
Or
http://www.biologyimagelibrary.com/home

Learning outcomes
Define the four types of tissue in the human body
Describe the composition of connective tissue
Understand the variation in types of connective
tissue
Identify histological images from different types of
connective tissue
Next time: Connective Tissue Part 2