BIO 400

EXPERIMENT 7: EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

GROUP AS2461A
GROUP MEMBERS NAJWA BT AHMAD ABD RAOF (2018654492)

SHAFIFAH HANIM BINTI SHAWKANY HAZIM

(2018435936)

DATE OF 12 NOVEMBER 2018

EXPERIMENT
DATE OF 19 NOVEMBER 2018
SUBMISSION
LECTURER PROF MADYA DR. MANSUR AHMAD
Title
Experiment 7: Extracellular matrix
Objective
Examine prepared slides of selected connective tissue such as loose connective, dense regular
connective tissue adipose, cartilage, ground bone, epidermal and blood that may help the
students understand and appreciate how tissue types combine to form organs.
Abstract
In biology, matrix is the material in animal or plant cells, in which more specialized structures
are embedded, and a specific part of the mitochondrion. The internal structure of connective
tissues is an extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix of connective tissue is composed of
ground substance and fibers. In ordinary connective tissue, the ground substance consists
mainly of water. The principal fiber type is collagen (the most abundant protein in the body),
with elastic fibers as a minor element. In this experiment, we examined the prepared slides
under a compound microscope to observe different types of connective tissues. At the end of
this experiment we could be able to identify the different types of connective tissues in cellular
matrix.
Introduction
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex structural entity surrounding and supporting cells
that are found within mammalian tissue. The ECM is often referred to as the connective tissue.
The ECM is composed of 3 major classes of biomolecules. Firstly, the structural protein;
collagen and elastin. Secondly, the specialized proteins. For example fibrilin, fibronectin and
laminin. Lastly, proteoglycans. These are composed of a protein core to which is attached long
chains of repeating disaccharide units termed glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) forming extremely
complex high molecular weight components of ECM.
Hyaline cartilage is a supportive tissue with a flexible rubbery matrix. It gives shape to the
external ears, the tip of the nose, and the larynx- the most easily palpated cartilages in the body,.
Hyaline cartilage is named for its clear, glassy microscopic appearance, which stems from the
usually invisible fineness of its collagen fibres.
Epithelial is located on the very outside of an organ or organism such as skin or fund lining
lumen. Epithelium tissue always has free surface. Epithelial tissue is also avascular which is
no blood vessels and must depend on underlying tissues for the nutrients and oxygen it needs
to maintain homeostasis. For this reason, epithelial tissue is usually very thin. Another
characteristic of epithelial tissue is that it has little to no intercellular matrix between its cells.
The cell are thightly packed together. Major functions of epithelial tissue include protection,
secretion and absoption.
Bone composed of multiply tissue types, and to the bone tissue, or osseous tissue, that make
up most of the mass of bones. There are two forms of osseous tissue which are spongy bone
and compact bone
Blood is a fluid connective tissue that travels through tubular vessels. Its primary function is to
transport cells and dissolved matter from place to place. Blood consists of a ground substance
called plasma and of cell fragments collectively called formed elements
Material
Prepared slides of Hyaline cartilage, simple cuboidal epithelium, skin, compact bone, human
blood smear film

Method
Task 1: Observing slides of selected connective tissue
1. The prepared slides of selected connective tissues was observed, identified and their
parts was labelled.

Results
Hyaline
Pseudo stratified
cartilage
epithelium

Matrix

Chondrocytes

Simple
cuboidal Lumen
epithelium
Connective
Nucleus tissue

Kidney

Skin
 Compact
bone

oeston

Haversian
canal

Human
blood
smear film

Erythrocytes

Lymphocyte

Discussion
Hyaline cartilage is covered externally by a fibrous membrane known as the perichondrium.
This membrane contains vessel that provide the cartilage with nutrition through diffusion.
When a thin slice of hyaline cartilage is examined under the microscope using 40x
magnification, it is shown to consist of cells (chondrocytes) of a rounded or bluntly angular
form in homogeneous matrix. The chondrocytes have rounded, but generally straight outlines;
where they are in contact with each other
Simple cuboidal epithelium is a type of epithelium that consists of a single layer of cuboidal
(cube-like) cells. These cuboidal cells have large, spherical and central nuclei. Epithelial tissue
is usually very thin and it has little to no intercellular matrix between its cells. The cell are
tightly packed together.
Compact bone consists of closely packed osteons or haversian systems. The osteon consists of
a central canal called the osteonic (haversian) canal, which is surrounded by concentric rings
(lamellae) of matrix. The osteonic canals contain blood vessels that are parallel to the long axis
of the bone. These blood vessels interconnect, by way of perforating canals, with vessels on
the surface of the bone.
For observation of blood smear film using the 10X objective lens we can see individual cells
and tell the difference between red and white blood cells. we can even see platelets if we know
what to look for. The platelets on this image are very faint, Most of the cells we see under
microscope are erythrocytes or red blood cells. They are small and don't have a nucleus
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have identified all the prepared slides which are hyaline cartilage, simple
cuboidal epithelium, skin, compact bone, and human blood smear. Extracellular matrix is
important to human body because other cells use the fibronectin matrix to migrate through a
tissue, which is particularly important during embryonic development; fibronectin helps
position cells within the extracellular matrix; and fibronectin is necessary for cellular division
and specialization in many tissues. Overall, this experiment was successful on looking for the
different connective tissue on the prepared slides.
References
 Mecham R, ed. (2011). The extracellular matrix: an overview. Springer.
 Theocharis, A. D.; Skandalis, S. S.; Gialeli, C.; Karamanos, N. K. (2016). "Extracellular
matrix structure" pages 4–27.
 https://www.colorado.edu/lab/neulab/research/extracellular-matrix-and-scaffold-design