AWDAL COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

General Histology
Connective Tissue

FRESH

Abdikeni EL-Suldan
 Connective Tissue
● Among the our basic tissues,
*Though
connective tissue is the most diverse, connective
having a variety of functions. tissue is diverse
• Connective tissue consists of the and is present
following:- in different
forms in the
(a) Cells: The various cells of the body.
connective tissue have been *the basic
described later in the chapter. structural
components of
(b) Extracellular matrix: Extracellular connective
matrix consists of ground substance tissue remain
and fibres. the same*.
 FUNCTION
• The major functions of connective tissue are as follows:
(a) It is present in between the cells, tissues and organs
and binds them together and provides structural support
to them.
(b) It is the tissue through which nutrients, oxygen and
metabolites difuse to and from the cells of the body.
(c) It provides immunological deffence through its various
cells.
(d) It also helps in wound healing and scar formation.
(e) It stores at (in adipocytes ).
 EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX
• As mentioned earlier, the extracellular matrix
consists of ground substance and fibres.
1. GROUND SUBSTANCE
• It is a transparent, gel-like substance that is
composed of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans
and glycoproteins.
● It acts as a lubricant and is also a medium or the
exchange of nutrients and metabolites between the
cells of the connective tissue and blood. It also
prevents the spread of microorganisms.
● Cells and fibres of the connective tissue are present
in the ground substance.
 GROUND SUBSTANCES cont…
 Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
• Glycosaminoglycans or mucopolysaccharides are
long-chain unbranched polysaccharides.
• Based on their chemical structure, different types of
GAGs are present. These are hyaluronic acid,
chondroitin sulphate, dermatan sulphate, heparin
and heparan sulphate and keratan sulphate.
 GROUND SUBSTANCES cont…
 Proteoglycans
• These are large molecules consisting of a core
protein to which numerous GAGs are attached.
• However, amongst the diffferent GAGs,
hyaluronic acid does not bind to the core protein,
and hence it does not form proteoglycan.
● Core proteins of proteoglycans bind with long
strand o hyaluronic acid through link proteins.
 GROUND SUBS CONT…
Glycoproteins:-
● These are proteins to which oligosaccharide chains are attached.
● They bring about adhesion between cells and extracellular matrix.
● There are several types of glycoproteins in the ground substance; some of
these are as follows:
(a) Fibronectin: It is a multi functional glycoprotein; it mediates the adhesion
of cells to the extracellular matrix.
(b) Laminin: It mediates the adhesion of epithelial cells to basement
membrane.
(c) Entactin: It is a link protein which binds laminin type IV collagen of
basement membrane.
(d) Osteonectin: It is present in the bones and plays an important role in
bone mineralisation.
(e) Chondronectin: It is present in cartilages; it mediates the adhesion of
chondrocytes to the extracellular matrix.
 FIBRES
• Fibers are present in the ground substance of connective tissue.
• There are three types of fibers:-
collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers.
1. Collagen Fibers
• These are present in almost all the connective tissues of the body
and provide toughness and tensile strength to the tissue.
• There are more than a dozen varieties of collagen in the body. The
most common forms are listed below:
(a) Type I collagen: Present in tendon, ligaments, dermis, fascia, etc.
(b) Type II collagen: Present in the hyaline cartilage.
(c) Type III collagen: Present in reticular fibers.
(d) Type IV collagen: Present in the basement membrane.
2. Elastic Fibers
● Elastic fibers have the property to stretch in response to
tension and hence provide elasticity to the tissue.
● These fibers are thin and straight (after sectioning, they
become wavy). They are thinner than collagen fibers.
Individual fibers branch and form three-dimensional
network.
● They consist o the protein elastin and microf brils.
● Elastic fibers help restore normal shape of the tissue
after distortion. These fibers are extremely elastic and
can stretch and recoil.
● These fibers are present in large numbers in skin, lungs,
large blood vessels and elastic ligaments such as
ligamentum nuchae.
3. Reticular Fibers
● These are thin fibers which make an extensive
network.
● Reticular fibers consist of type III collagen; they
are thinner than collagen fibers.
 CELLS OF THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Cell type Main functions
Fixed cells:-
Fibroblasts Secrete and maintain the
Adipose cells components of matrix
Store energy and act as thermal
insulators

Wandering cells:-
Plasma cells
Macrophages
Mast cells
Neutrophils Provide deffence and immunity
Eosinophils
Basophils
Lymphocytes
Monocytes
 TYPES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Connective tissue

Connective tissue
Special connective
proper
tissue

Cartilage
Loose Dens e
connective conne ctive Bone
tissue tis sue

Blood
Regular
Adipose
Irregula r tissue
 TYPES OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE
• Connective tissue is classified based on the
composition of its cellular and extracellular
components and their arrangement.
● Connective tissue is broadly classified into two
groups:
(a) Connective tissue proper
(b) Special connective tissue
 Cont…
• Connective tissue proper includes those connective
tissues in which fibrous component is predominant.
• Connective tissue proper includes loose (areolar)
connective tissue and dense (regular and irregular)
connective tissue.
● Special connective tissue is designed or specific
functions and hence is present at specific locations.
It includes adipose tissue, cartilage, bone and
blood.
 LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE .
● It is also called loose areolar tissue.
● It consists of loosely arranged collagen f bres and abundant
ground substance. Elongated nuclei of broblasts can be
seen. Other cells of connective tissue are also present.
● It gets distorted easily; hence, it allows the tissue to move
freely.
● It also supports the overlying epithelium. It is a vascular
tissue; metabolites and oxygen difuse through it to the
epithelium (which is avascular).
● Example: Lamina propria and submucosa of various tracts
(respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, etc.) and hypodermis.
DENSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
● It provides tensile strength to the tissue. It
also offers protection to the underlying tissue.
● It has more fibers and less ground substance
and cells.
● Based on the orientation of the fibers, it is of
two types—dense regular and dense irregular
connective tissues.
• Dense Regular Connective Tissue.
● Connective tissue is arranged in a definite pattern.
• Collagen fibers are aligned uniformly. This uniform
alignment helps in transferring mechanical force.
• The force generated by a muscle is transferred to
the bone through its tendon, which is a dense
regular connective tissue.
● Example: Tendons and ligaments.
Dense Irregular Connective Tissue
● Collagen fibers are arranged irregularly.
● This tissue provides resistance to mechanical
stress from all directions.
● Example: Reticular layer of the dermis
• BASEMENT MEMBRANE
● It is a thin sheet of extracellular matrix secreted by epithelial cells which rest
on it.
● Basement membrane consists of two layers: basal lamina and reticular lamina
These components are visible only under an electron microscope.
a) Basal lamina is composed of type IV collagen, glycoproteins and
proteoglycans. It consists of two layers: lamina lucida, which is a clear zone
adjacent to the cell membrane, and lamina densa, which is a dense zone
lying between lamina lucida and reticular lamina.
b) Reticular lamina consists of reticular fibers , which are produced by cells o
connective tissue.
● Anchoring fibrils, which consist of type VII collagen, extend from basal lamina
to reticular lamina.
● It should be noted that the terms basal lamina and basement membrane are
often used interchangeably.
● Basal lamina associated with non-epithelial cells like muscle cells is re erred
to as external lamina.
● Functions: Basement membrane anchors the cells to the surrounding
connective tissue. It acts as a filter; only certain substances can pass through
the basement membrane.