Connective tissue is the most abundant tissue in the body and binds and supports other tissues. It consists of cells surrounded by an extracellular matrix of ground substance and fibers. The main cell types are fibroblasts, adipocytes, macrophages, mast cells, and plasma cells. The matrix contains ground substance and fibers such as collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers. Connective tissues include areolar, adipose, cartilage, bone, blood, and lymphatic tissue. Areolar tissue binds skin and organs. Adipose tissue stores fat. Tendons and ligaments connect muscle to bone. Cartilage provides flexibility and strength to joints. Bone forms the skeleton and stores minerals. Blood and lymph transport nutrients and waste.

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2. DEFINITION:
Most abundant and widely distributed tissue
Binds together, supports and strengthens other
body tissues
Is the major transport system within the body
Main site of stored energy reserves and immune
responses

3. CHARACTERISTICS
 Cells widely spaced
 Predominantly intercellular material (matrix)
 Development – mesoderm, neural crest
(head region)
 Blood vessels – few supply
 Classification – based on matrix, cells, fibres

4. Components
Cells Matrix
Ground substance FIBERS
COMPOSITION: CONNECTIVE TISSUE

5. Composition

6. Components
Cells
Fixed
Fibroblasts
Adipocytes
Wandering
Macrophage
Mast cells
Plasma cells
Matrix
Ground
substance
GAG /MPS
Fibers
Collagen
Elastic
Reticular
CONNECTIVE TISSUE

7. CELLS OF CONNECTIVE TISSUE

8. Cell
Fibroblast Adipocyte Macrophage
Features Secrete matrix, numerous Lipocytes / fat cells Histiocytes, nomadic
Shape Spindle / fusiform with irregular
surface
Oval, round or
polygonal
Irregular with filopodia
Size Avg 50 um 15-20 um
Nucleus Large, central , open faced At one side Small indented, kidney
shaped
Cytoplasm Markedly basophilic (rER) Peripheral ring of
cytoplasm, fat
globules, signet ring
appearance
Cytogranuales &
vacuoles, stains
deeply
Function Secrete EC matrix Formation & storage
of fat
Phagocytic
Site Abundant during healing in all
CT
Many together forms
giant cells
Special
stain
Frozen section, Sudan
III-> red, Osmic acid -
> black, Sudan black -
> black

9. Cell Mast cell Plasma cell Pigment cell
Features Formed by B lymphocytes Chromatophore
s
Shape Round or oval Round or oval irregular
Size 12 um Upto 15 um
Nucleus Central, small Spherical & eccentric;
cartwheel appearance,
clock face
Cytoplasm Cyto-granuales,
basophilic
Basophilic, rich in rER
Function Secrete histamine,
heparin
Store Ab in cyto-granuales;
russel’s bodies
Contain
pigment -
melanin
Site Inflammation, allergy,
hypersensitivity
skin
Special stain For granules:
toluidine blue,
Methylene blue,
alcian blue

10. FIBRES
 COLLAGEN
 ELASTIC
 RETICULAR

11. Collagen

12. Collagen
 Strong resist pulling forces
 Allow tissue flexibility
 Often occur in bundle
 They consist of protein collagen
 Represents 25% of total protein
 Found in bone, cartilage, tendons and
ligaments

13. Elastic fibers

14. Elastic Fibers:
 Small in diameter then collagen fiber
 They contain protein elastin which
allows them to stretch up to 150% of
their relaxed strength
 They have ability to return to their
original shape having a property called
elasticity
 Eg. Skin, blood vessel walls and lung
tissue et cetra

15. Reticular fibers

16. Reticulate fibers
 Consist of collagen arranged as fine
branching inter woven fiber that provide
support in the wall of blood vessels and
form a network around the cell and
tissues such is areolar connective
tissues
 Provide support and strength
 They stroma or covering of many soft
organs such as spleen

17. GROUND SUBS
 Amorphous, transparent, semi-fluid gel
 Proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid (GAG), water
 Proteoglycans: chondroitin SO4, chondroitin 6
SO4, dermatan SO4, heparan SO4, heparin
SO4, keratan SO4

18. Connective tissue
Adult
Ordinary
Loose
Areolar
Adipose
Reticular
Dense
Regular
Tendon
Ligament
Aponeurosis
Irregular
Subcutaneous
tissue
Specialized
Blood
Cartilage
Bone
Fetal

19. AREOLAR TISSUE

20. AREOLAR TISSUE
 Widely distributed connective tissue
 It contains cell fibroblast, macrophages,
plasma cells, mast cells and adipocytes
 Fibers are arranged randomly
throughout the tissue
 Contains subcutaneous layer under the
skin
 Functions: Strength elasticity and
support

21. ADIPOSE TISSUE

22. ADIPOSE TISSUE
 Contains adipocytes (Adipo = Fat)
 Specialized for storage of fats
 Nucleus is pushed into a thin ring
around the periphery of the cell
 Good insulator, hence reduces heat loss
through skin
 Supports and protects

23. TENDONS

24. TENDONS AND
LIGAMENTS
 Fall under dense regular connected
tissue
 The collagen fibers are arranged in
parallel pattern providing great strength
 Fibroblast in rows between fiber bundles
 They are silvery white and tough
somewhat pliable

25. ELASTIC CONNECTIVE
TISSUES

26. Elastic connective tissue
 Fibroblast are present in the space
between the fibers
 It is quite strong and can recoil to its
original shape after being stretched
 Important for normal functioning of
lungs, elastic arteries.
 Function : Allow stretching of various
organs

27. CARTILAGE

28. Cartilages
 They contain condrocytes differently
arranged on all three cartilage
 Hyaline cartilage is the most abundant
cartilage in the body
 Fibrocartilage combines strength and
rigidity and is strongest of the three
 Elastic cartilage is for the flexible
movement
 They are found in joints, intervertebral disc
and nose

29. BONES

30. BONES
 Supports soft tissues, protects delicate
organs and works with skeleton muscle
to generate moment
 They store calcium and phosphorous
 Produce RBC
 Storage site for triglycerides
 Consist of osteocytes extra cellular
matrix

31. BLOOD AND LYMPHS

32. BLOOD AND LYMPHS
 Contain extra cellular matrix for blood
plasma
 Formed elements called RBC, WBC, and
plateletes
 Functions: Transport oxygen, provide
immunity and helping blood clotting
 Lymphs circulate body fluids transports
lipids and defense against pathogens
 It consist of several type of cells in clear
liquid extra cellular matrix

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