Most abundant tissue in the body; located internally; connects and binds tissues and structures; provides support; provides protection; transport; helps repair damaged tissue; well vascularized (except cartilage, which is avascular); innervated (except cartilage)

Function mnemonic: CaB RPST (Connects and Binds Repairs Protects Supports Transports)

1) Matrix: Ground substance (fluid, semisolid gel, or solid) and extracellular protein fibers (collage, reticular, and elastic)

2) Cells: Resident AKA Fixed cells (Fibroblast, mast cell, macrophage, plasma cell) and Wandering cells (WBCs, RBCs, temporary increase in # of resident cells)

Collagen: Individual, thread-like proteins are bundled together to form a single thick collagen fiber. Increased tensile strength. Strongest fiber.

Reticular: Single, branched collagen protein. Reticular fibers join each other in a fish-net pattern to form supporting network.

Elastic: Can appear single stranded (wavy/ruffled) or branched. Contains the protein elastin which is easily stretched

Fibroblast: Most common CT cell; large, star-shaped. Secretes protein into the matrix for fiber production

Mast cell: Large, membranous sac of granules (containing chemicals like histamine [vasodilator], heparin precursor [weak anticoag], and inflammatory mediators) that resides near blood vessels. In the presence of trauma or foreign substances it degranulates to initiate a local inflammatory response. 

Macrophage: a very large phagocytotic cell; a type of specialized monocyte (WBC) for phagocytosis

Plasma Cell: specialized b-lymphocyte (WBC) for antibody secretion. NOTE: this cell is not in blood plasma!

Mnemonic: MaMa PFW (Mast, Macrophage, Plasma, Fibroblast, Wandering)

Areolar CT; Adipose AKA Fat CT; Reticular CT; Dense Regular CT; Dense Irregular CT; Elastic CT; Cartilage; Bone AKA Osseus CT; Blood

Mnemonic: CEDARAD BB

Hyaline Cartilage: most abundant, but weakest. Transparent amorphous matrix with only a small % of chondrocytes and unseen collagen fibers; located at the ends of long bones, in the nose, the wall forming the trachea, and joining ribs to the sternum

Elastic Cartilage: matrix of many branched elastic fibers granting it increased flexibility; located as a frame for the external ears and in the epiglottis

Fibgrocartilage: strongest cartilage; has a matrix of large, thick collagen fibers denseley packed together in parallel arrangement; increased strength, acts a a shock absorber; located in intervertebral disks, menisci in knee joints, and the pubic symphysis

Fibroblast -> CT Proper

Chondroblast ->Cartilage

Osteoblast -> Bone

Hemocytoblast -> Blood cells

1) Most abundant CT in the body

2) Consists of all 3 protein fibers loosely spread out in a gel-like ground subtance; has many fixed and wandering cells

3) CT Proper

Function: Supports, Protects, Connects

Location: Deep to the epithelial basement membrane

1) Gel-like ground substance filled with adipocytes that store triglycerides in droplets -> cells enlarge -> nucleus pushed aside

2) Nucleus is never in the center

3) CT Proper

Function: insulation, energy storage

1) Contains mainly interlaced reticular fibers

2) Provides the internal framework, AKA stroma, for some organs (liver, spleen, lymph nodes)

3) CT Proper

1) Contains densely packed thick collagen fibers arranged in parallel rows; ground substance appears silvery white with few fibroblasts (heavily compressed)

2) Poor blood supply, which increases healing time for torn ligaments and tendons

3) CT Proper

Function: Withstands a pulling force as in a tendon or ligament. Very strong.

1) Contains mostly chopped-up collagen fibers randomly arranged with a few fibroblasts

2) Good blood supply

3) CT Proper

Function: Strength, support

Location: Skin, joint capsule, perichondrium, periosteum

1) Contains increased numbers of elastic fibers in parallel strands (fibers always appear wavy/ruffled)

2) CT Proper

Function: Provides elasticity

Location: Blood vessel wall

1) Matrix consists of fibers plust a ground substance made of 80% water and Chondroitin sulfate (a protein polysaccharide)

2) Formed by chondroblasts secreting chondroitin sulfate which mixes with water -> gets firm -> traps chondroblast in a small cavity/chamber called a lacuna (lacunae plural); eventually chondroblast becomes a chondrocyte

3) Gross anatomy: Dense Irregular CT surrounds the surface of most cartilaginous structures, termed: perichondrium, which is vascular and allows for the diffusion of O2 and nurtients into the cartilage

4) Cartilage is avascular and not innervated

5) Heals slowly due to avascularity and chondrocytes not dividing frequently

Functions: Support, Protection, structural model for developing bone

1) Matrix has large amounts of collagen fibers plus a ground substance consisting of inorganic Ca⁺⁺ salts (CaPO₄[calcium phosphate] and CaCO₃[calcium carbonate])

2)Bone cells come in three types: osteoblast (secretes osteoid: the organic portion of the matrix, which then gets calcified to make bone rigid); osteocyte (trapped and lives in lacuna, maintains matrix); and osteoclast (bone-eating cell)

3) Arrangement of compact bone is as follows: bone matrix is deposited in concentric layers (lamella/ae) around a central Osteonic AKA Haversian canal (for blood vessels); canaliculi (little canals) radiate from each osteonic canal and osteocyte plasma membranes extend into these; lacunae where osteocytes live; Osteon AKA Haversian system which is a cylinder-shaped unit of calcified bone consisting of the aforementioned arrangement

1) Intercellular non-living fluid matrix AKA plasma

2) Cells suspended in plasma are: RBC aka Erythrocyte (contains hemglobin/Hb for O2 and CO2 transport); WBC AKA Leukocyte (involved with protection via phagocytosis and the immune system; Platelet AKA Thrombocyte (involved in blood-clotting and has Growth and Healing factors)

3) Only entirely liquid CT

Site: Attached to bones

Function: Movement

Nucleus of Cells: Multiple, at the peripheral border

Striations: Yes

Branching: No

Nervous System Control: Voluntary and Involuntary

Site: Heart

Function: Pumps blood

Nucleus of Cells: Single, Central

Striations: Yes

Branching: Yes

Nervous System Control: Involuntary

Site: walls of visceal organs and blood vessels

Function: Churning (in visceral organs) and vasoconstriction (in blood vessels)

Nucleus of Cells: Single, central

Striations: No

Branching: No

Nervous System Control: Involuntary

1) Neuron: Fundamental unit of Nervous System. Kite-like cell body w/ large nucleus and other typical intracellular organelles; has extensions AKA neuronal processes (axons and dendrites) that generate, receive, and conduct nerve impulses; a neuron is the longest cell in the body

2) Support Cells AKA Neuroglia AKA Glial Cells: do not generate or conduct nerve impulses; they support, protect, and insulate neurons

1) PNS receives a stimulus and generates an electrical impulse

2) PNS conducts the impulse to the CNS

3) CNS receives and interprets impulse

4) CNS generates and conducts responsive impulse to effectors

Neoplasm: abnormal growth of tissue

Benign - non-lethal; grows slowly; does not spread; stays within a CT capsule

Malignant - lethal; can spread; does not stay within a CT capsule

Carcinoma - epithelial origin

Adenocarcinoma - glandular origin

Sarcoma - CT origin; osteogenic sarcoma = a malignant tumor of bone; chondrosarcoma = a malignant tumor of cartilage

Myoma - muscle origin (can be benign)

Neuroma - nerve origin (can be benign)

Carcinogens: chemical agents that damage DNA

Mutagens: Anything that causes DNA to mutate (foods; ionizing radiation; drugs; viruses like HIV)

Genetic Abnormalities: gene changes -> abnormal growth; oncogenes (stimulate cell growth); protooncogenes(regulate cell growth and differentiation); antioncogenes AKA tumor-suppressor genes (suppress tumor growth)

Stress: possibly -> chemical changes

Radiation therapy - effective on growing cells undergoing mitosis; breaks up DNA base-pair bonds

chemotherapy - kills mature CA cells so the body's natural defenses can take-over

immunotherapy - boosts one's immune system cells (Helper T-Cells)

gene therapy - replace and/or repair chromosomal abnormalities

Surgery (sx) - removal of malignant or benign lesion