Connective Tissue:

One of the four general classes of animal tissues- the others are Epithelial, muscle, and
nervous tissues
• Made up of : cells and extracellular matrix
Location(s):
Found throughout the body except central nervous system; most abundant and
widely distributed
Ex: Skin, membranes, muscles,bone,nerves, and all internal organs
• Cell shape:
Irregular or Round
• Cell Arrangement:
Scattered in matrix
3 Major components of Connective Tissue:

• Ground substance: Liquid,solid, or gel

• Extracellular fibers: Collagenous, Reticular, Elastic
• Cells

Types of cell :
Fixed Cells: Production & Maintenance of Extracellular Matrix
Free Cells: Tissue reaction to injury or invasion of Microorganisms
 Fixed cells (intrinsic cells)
Fibroblast:
• Are the most common cell type in connective tissues.
• Characteristics: Stellate or elongated with abundant ER
• Function:
• Synthesis of extracellular materials ((Polysaccharides and proteins secreted by fibroblasts combine with extra-cellular fluids to produce a
viscous ground substance that, with embedded fibrous proteins for the ECM)
• Secretion of fibers and ground substance (key role in maintaining tissue integrity)
• Contain organelles that are necessary for the synthesis and excretion of proteins needed to repair the tissue damage.
• Location: throughout lamina propria
Adipocyte(fat cells)
• Function: storage of lipid
• Location: In loose connective tissue
• White and Brown
• Appear as empty space
Fixed macrophages
• a type of blood cell which enters the connective tissue matrix from the blood vessels.
• Characteristics: irregularly shaped and utilized to engulf invaders and damaged cells
• Function: body’s defense against potential pathogens and degraded host cells.
• Are permanent residents of their tissues.
Free cells
Macrophage
(extrinsic cells/Wandering Cells)
• Roaming or free
• move rapidly by amoeboid movement
• Engulf infectious agents and cellular debris.
Mast cell
• small, mobile cells found near blood vessels in loose connetive tissue
• Characteristic: Round or Oval basophilic granules
• Function: Secretion of certain inflammatory mediators and vasoactive agents to stimulate local inflammation in response
to injury/infection
• Location: throughout lamina propria, often subepithelial
Leukocytes
• Eosinophilic: Modulate allergic/vasoactive reactions and defense against parasites
• Neutrophilic: Phagocytosis of bacteria
Plasma Cell
• Derived from white blood cells called B-cells
• Usually found in lymph nodes
• They are important in developing immunity.
Difference between Epithelial and Connective