Types of Connective Tissue

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Types of Connective Tissue

• Fall 2008
• Animal Growth Development
• ANSC 590
• Tarleton State University

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Major Functions of Connective Tissue

• Protective package

• Support and bear weight
• Mobility  
• Transmit force

• Pathway for cell migration, ions, proteins,
  metabolites, etc.
• Structural barrier and immune response to
  infection or invasion

• Organ maintenance, defense, and repair
• Wound healing

• Storage

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Collagen Elastin Percentage Comparisons in
Selected Connective Tissues
Adapted from A.J. Baily N. Light, 1989
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4 Types of Connective Tissue

• Loose
• 2. Dense
• 3. Adipose
• 4. Supportive

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Loose Connective Tissue Characteristics

• Porous
• Highly flexible yet strong
• Relatively few collagen or elastin fibers
• Highly vascular
• Many cells

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Dense Connective Tissue Characteristics

• Many fibers
• High in Collagen and Elastin
• Very strong with little flexibility
• Minimally vascular

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Dense Connective TissueRegular vs. Irregular

• Regular has aligned fibers for maximal tensile
  strength. - i.e. tendons
• Irregular Dense Connective Tissue has a random
  lay of fibers to resist forces from many
  directions by always providing opposition. - i.e.
  skin

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Adipose Connective Tissue Characteristics

• Specialized
• Stores triglycerides
• Stores energy
• Insulates
• Pliable
• Cushions
• Important for animal growth
• Around critical organs
• Highly vascular

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Supportive Connective Tissue Characteristics

• Specialized
• Matrix consists of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin
  4-sulfate, chodroitin 6-sulfate, keratin sulfate,
  and chondrocytes
• Minimally vascular so thin and layered

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Interstitial Growth
Supportive Connective Tissue
vs.
Appositional Growth

• Interstitial Growth occurs within the tissue by
  filling newly-formed lacunae then creating
  replacement lacunae.
• Appositional Growth occurs outside the tissue by
  forming new layers.

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Supportive Connective Tissue 3 Types of Cartilage

• Hyaline Cartilage
• Many collagen fibrils - 40 of total weight of
  hyaline cartilage
• Bluish-white
• Resistant to constant pressure and friction
  i.e. rigid rings of trachea
• Elastic Cartilage
• Much elastin with little collagen
• Very flexible without gross rigidity i.e.
  external ear
• Fibrocartilage
• Mostly collagen
• Very rigid with little or no flexibility i.e.
  between pelvic bone pubis
• Referred to as Almost Bone