1. Connective Tissue
Chapter 4.2
Human Anatomy & Physiology

2. Connective Tissue
■ Function:
- Binds structures together
- Provides support & protection
- Fills spaces
- Produces blood cells
- Stores fat
■ For energy, insulation, organ protection

3. Parts of tissues
■ Structure:
- Tissue cells are widely separated by
extracellular matrix
- Can be solid, semisolid, or liquid
■ Matrix of connective tissue determine its
properties

4. Fibers of the Matrix
■ White fibers – contain collagen which
gives the fibers flexibility and strength
■ Yellow fibers – contain elastin more elastic
than collagen but not as strong
■ Reticular fibers – thin, highly branched
collagenous fibers that provide support

6. 1. Fibrous Connective Tissue
■ Loose (areolar) connective tissue
◻ adipose
■ Dense connective tissue
◻ Regular
◻ irregular
■ Reticular connective tissue

7. A. Loose (areolar) Connective Tissue
■ Lies between other
tissues or between
organs binding them
■ Cells made of
fibroblasts – large,
star-shaped cells
■ Contains many white
fibers (strong and
flexible) and yellow
fibers (very elastic)

9. ■ Adipose tissue is a
type of loose
connective tissue
- stores fats,
provides insulation
- found beneath
skin, around kidney
& heart, breast

11. B. Dense Connective Tissue
Regular
■ Consists of parallel
bundles of
collagenous fibers
■ Found in tendons &
ligaments
■ Binds organs together
Irregular
■ Bundles run in
different direction
■ Found in inner portion
of skin

12. Dense Regular Dense Irregular

13. 2. Cartilage
■ The cell
(chondrocytes)
lies in small
chambers called
lacunae
■ Matrix is solid yet
flexible
■ Lacks direct
blood supply, as
a result, it heals
slowly

14. ■3 types
- Hyaline cartilage-trachea
- Elastic cartilage – ear
- Fibrocartilage - ACL

15. 3. Bones
■ Most rigid of the connective tissues
■ Minerals and protein fibers gives bone
rigidity, elasticity and strength
■ Two types:
◻ Compact bone
◻ Spongy bone

16. A. Compact Bone
■ Found in the outer portion of long bones
■ Consists of many cylindrical-shaped units
called osteon

18. B. Spongy Bone
■ Found on ends of long bone
■ Contains bony bars and plates called
trabeculae separated by irregular
spaces
■ Blood cells are made within the red
marrow found in the spongy bone

20. 4. Blood
■ Connective tissue
composed of cells
suspended in liquid matrix
called plasma
■ Red blood cells
(erythrocytes) – carries
oxygen
■ White blood cells
(leukocytes) – fights
infection
■ Platelets – fragment of
giant cells found in bone
marrow