Connective Tissue

Connective tissue consists of cells separated by varying amounts of extracellular substance. In connective
tissues cells typically account for only a small fraction of the tissue volume. The extracellular substance consists
of fibres which are embedded in ground substance containing tissue fluid. Fibres in connective tissue can be
divided into three types: collagen fibres, reticular fibres and elastic fibres.1

Generally C.T ( Abbreviation of Connective Tissue ) is formed of :

• Cells
• Fibers
• Ground Substance ( Matrix )

# Connective Tissue Cells :

• Macrophages

Macrophages arise from precursor cells called monocytes. Monocytes originate in the bone marrow from where
they are released into the blood stream. They are actively mobile and leave the blood stream to enter connective
tissues, where they differentiate into macrophages. Macrophages change their appearance depending on the
demand for phagocytotic activity. Resting macrophages may be as numerous as fibrocytes.

1
http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/corepages/connective/connect.htm
 • Mast Cells :

Mast cells are oval or round cells (20-30µ m diameter) in connective tissue characterized by
cytoplasm packed with large round basophilic granules (up to 2µ m diameter). The granules are
stained metachromatically (purple after toluidine blue staining). Two of the main components of
mast cell granules are histamine and heparin. The granules of mast cells are released in
inflammatory responses. Mast cells are abundant in loose connective tissue (especially adjacent to
blood vessels), in the dermis, and in the lamina propria of the respiratory and digestive tracts.2

• Plasma cells
3
Plasma cells are responsible for antibody production. These large cells have eccentric nuclei,
basophilic cytoplasm (much rough endoplasmic reticulum associated with protein synthesis) and
well-developed Golgi bodies. Plasma cells are relatively short-lived (10-20 days) and are found in
sites of chronic inflammation or sites of high risk of invasion by bacteria or foreign proteins (such
as the lamina propria of the intestinal and respiratory tracts).

2
http://www.technion.ac.il/~mdcourse/274203/lect3.html
3
http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/medicine/divisions/hematology/microscopic/image-bank/plasma-cell-
disorders/multiple-myeloma-flame-shaped-plasma-cell-100x5.jpg/image_view_fullscreen
 • Fat Cells :

Fat cells or adipocytes are fixed cells in loose connective tissue. Their main function is (what surprise!) the
storage of lipids. If "well fed" the cytoplasm only forms a very narrow rim around a large central lipid droplet.
The flattened nucleus may be found in a slightly thickened part of this cytoplasmic rim - if it is present in the
section, which may not be the case since the diameter of an adipocyte (up to 100 µm) is considerable larger than
the thickness of typical histological sections. A "starving" adipocyte may contain multiple small lipid droplets
and gradually comes to resemble a fibrocyte.
4

• Fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are the most common cell type found in connective tissue. The term "fibroblast" is
commonly used to describe the active cell type, whereas the more mature form, which shows less
active synthetic activity, is commonly described as the "fibrocyte". Fibroblasts are elongated,
spindle-shaped cells with many cell processes. They have oval, pale-staining, regular nuclei with
prominent nucleoli. Abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and active Golgi bodies are found in
the cytoplasm.

Fibroblasts synthesize collagen, reticular and elastic fibers and the amorphous extracellular
substance (including the glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins). 5
6

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4
http://health.allrefer.com/pictures-images/lipocytes-fat-cells.html
5
http://www.technion.ac.il/~mdcourse/274203/lect3.html
6
http://amser.org/index.php?P=AMSER--ResourceFrame&resourceId=5622