Connective tissue performs several essential functions in the body. It binds and supports other tissues, protects organs, stores fat, and participates in immune responses. There are four main types of connective tissue - fibrous, adipose, blood, and loose. Disorders of connective tissue like epidermolysis bullosa and scurvy can develop if the structures and proteins of connective tissue like collagen are compromised. This can lead to fragile skin, joint issues, bleeding, and other symptoms depending on which tissues are affected.

1. Learning Module
Objectives:
● Learn the structures and functions of connective tissue
● Identify different types of connective tissue
● Explore disorders related to connective tissue
Google Slides

2. Connective Tissue
- Binds structures together
- Support and Protection
- Stores fat
- Immune function
Remember, there are four different types of tissue
in the body.
1. What would happen if your
connective tissue wasn’t working?

3. 1. What would happen if your connective tissue wasn’t working?
Any condition that affects the body's connective tissues, which hold its structures together, is referred to as a
connective tissue illness.Collagen and elastin are the two proteins that make up connective tissues. The protein
collagen is present in blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, skin, cornea, cartilage, and other body tissues. The main
protein in ligaments and skin, elastin is flexible and resembles a rubber band. Collagen and elastin are irritated in
those who have connective tissue diseases. Proteins are affected, as are the body sections they link.
Because there are so many different kinds of connective tissue diseases, symptoms may vary
and may affect different parts of the body. Body parts that may be affected include:
•Bones.
•Joints.
•Skin.
•Heart and blood vessels.
•Lungs. Some of the diseases, like the ones mentioned above, can cause serious pulmonary issues.
•Head and face. Some of these diseases can make the face, head, eyes and ears look different than the faces and
heads of other people.
•Height. Some diseases cause the people who have them to be very tall or very short.

4. Three types of cells in connective tissue
1. Mast cells - prevents clots (green with dots)
2. Macrophage - consumers (bright pink)
3. Fibroblasts - produce fibers (light blue)
4. Collagen fibers - made by fibroblasts (light green)
Blood cell
MACROPHAGE FIBROBLAST
MAST CELL
COLLAGEN FIBERS
Reticular fibers
2. Use the descriptions
(colors) to label the image.

5. Collagenous - bones, ligaments, tendons
Elastic - ears, vocal cords
Main types of fibers
COLLAGEN FIBER ELASTIN FIBER
FIBROBLAST NUCLEI
3. Use this image on the left to
label the image on the right.

6. Vitamin C is needed to make collagen.
Without this vitamin, changes occur in the
connective tissue of the body.
SCURVY is a disease caused by lack of vitamin C.
Symptoms of Scurvy
- bleeding in gums
- loose teeth
- swelling in joints
- bleeding under the skin
(pinpoint hemorrhage)
Source: ND.gov
4. Why was scurvy a disease associated with
sailors and soldiers? (If you are uncertain, read this
short article about Scurvy in the Frontier Army.)

7. When vitamin C levels are low,
scurvy develops (ascorbic acid). Anemia, gum disease, skin issues, and weakness are all
signs of the deficiency.This is because vitamin C is required for the production of collagen, a
crucial element in connective tissues. In the body, connective tissues are necessary for
support and structure, particularly the construction of blood vessels.The immune system, iron
absorption, cholesterol metabolism, and other processes will all be impacted by a vitamin C
deficiency.
Map out the causes of scurvy and the extent of its damage over the great maritime
journeys of the 15th to 18th centuries. You refer to scurvy as "the illness of discovery."During
those years, an estimated two million sailors perished from scurvy. The challenge with all of
those expeditions was that you were going to remain at sea continually, perhaps for more than
three months, at some point in the voyaging. These are the centuries when humans are first
crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Because everyone on
the ship would be relying solely on preserved foods at that time, scurvy would become
apparent. Since vitamins are absent from preserved food, a number of nutritional illnesses
would be likely: lack of vitamin B1 would cause beriberi; no vitamin B3 would cause pellagra;
and vitamin C, of course, scurvy.

8. Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB or RDEB) is a
genetic disorder that causes skin to be very
delicate. Children with this disease must be
bandaged daily as they develop painful sores at
even the slightest touch. They are sometimes
called “butterfly children” because their skin is
so delicate.
There is no cure for EB. Management involves
wound care, bandaging, controlling infections
and reducing pain.
Source: Wikimedia commons
5. Why are those with EB called “butterfly
children?
A uncommon skin disorder called epidermolysis bullosa is typically hereditary. The skin becomes
exceedingly fragile and thin as a result. Because of their delicate skin[because their skin is as delicate
as a butterfly’s wings] those who are born with this affliction are frequently referred to as "butterfly
children." It can be challenging to live with epidermolysis bullosa, which for most people starts at birth.

9. Epidermolysis Bullosa
6. Examine normal skin and the skin of someone with RDEB. What is missing?
IN RDEB BLISTERING SKIN,, ANCHORING FIBRILS COLLAGEN VII IS MISSING
At the dermal-epidermal junction[DEJ], RDEB is brought on by loss-of-function mutations in the
type VII collagen gene, COL7A1, which result in decreased or absent type VII collagen (C7) and a lack of
structurally useful anchoring fibrils

10. Ground substance
Basement Membrane
7. Consider the
graphic on the last
slide. What CELLS
are not functioning in
someone with EB?
FIBRILS
COLLAGEN VII
occers within
basal layer
of epidermal
keratinocytes

11. A closer look at a fibroblast… (Source: https://biologydictionary.net/connective-tissue/ )
8. Drag the labels to the boxes. If you are stuck, click on the link above.
Golgi Apparatus
Rough ER
Mitochondrion
Nucleolus
Collagen Fibrils
Ribosomes
Nucleus
RIBOSOMES NUCLEUS
GOLGI APPARATUS
ROUGH ER
MITOCHONDRION
COLLAGEN FIBRILS
NUCLEOLUS

12. 9. How many fibroblasts can
you count on this image?
1112

13. MACROPHAGE
ELASTIC FIBRES
MAST CELL
BASEMENT MEMBRANE
FIBROBLAST
GROUND SUBSTANCE
COLLAGEN FIBRES
10. Label the tissue (use
slide 8 as a reference)

14. Categories of Connective Tissue
11. Examine the image to
determine which type of CT
would be associated with
epidermolysis bullosa.
LOOSE CONNECTIVE
TISSUE

15. 12. Refer to the previous slide to drag the
name of the tissue to the image.
Loose Connective Tissue
Blood
Fibrous Connective Tissue
Adipose Tissue
Bone

16. Final Synthesis: In the first slide, you were asked would would happen if you had defective connective
tissue. Use what you have learned in this module to write a short paragraph that explains WHY
connective tissue is important to the normal functioning of the body. Use specific details you have
learned.
The primary job of connective tissues in the body is to connect and support other tissues. This includes the
connective tissue sheath that surrounds muscle cells, the tendons that tie muscles to bones, and the
skeleton that stabilizes the body in various positions. Protecting sensitive organs and, of course, the skeletal
system is another important role of connective tissue, which serves in the form of fibrous capsules and
bones. Connective tissue contains specialized cells that protect the body from outside pathogens.
Specialized fluid connective tissues like blood and lymph carry fluid, nutrition, waste, and chemical
messengers. Adipose cells aid in the body's thermal insulation by storing excess energy in the form of fat.

17. Binding, support and packaging:
Connective tissues support, envelop, and hold in place other
tissues (epithelia, muscles, nerves). Fibers of connective tissue also create ligaments and tendons that hold
bones to one another or to muscles, as well as membranes and capsules that enclose organs. Additionally, they
create the three-dimensional fibrous mesh that holds cells in place inside of big soft organs like the liver and
spleen. Body organs are supported by bone and cartilage. A soft packing made of the delicate and brittle areolar
connective tissue surrounds the organs.
Protection, defense and repair:
Some connective tissues have exceptional regeneration capacity and play
a crucial role in damage repair. Connective tissue, which forms scar tissue, fills in the gaps left by the original
tissue when it fails to recover. Connective tissue has a number of cellular and molecular components that serve
as barriers against outside chemicals or microorganisms. Connective tissue at the location of an infection or
damage will become inflamed as a protective reaction. The delicate brain tissue is shielded by the bony
chamber of the skull.
INSULATION
Adipose tissue, often known as fat cells, is a type of connective tissue that serves as a body's
reserve energy source as well as a cushion for its organs.
TRANSPORTATION
Blood is a connective tissue that transports and supplies nutrients and oxygen to tissue

18. Because fibrous connective tissue is robust and elastic, the body's bones and organs can be supported and
strengthened.