Understanding Fabrics and Connective Tissue Types
Understanding Fabrics and Connective Tissue
Fabrics: (cellular level) Cells differ in size, but mainly in function.
Epithelial Tissue: Characterized by cells arranged in a layer, either simple or stratified. Its free or apical side faces a body surface.
Simple Squamous Epithelium: Lines the heart, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels, and is known as endothelium.
Simple Cuboidal Epithelium: Covers the surface of the ovary, the front of the lens, kidney tubules, the thyroid gland, and small ducts.
Simple Columnar Ciliated Epithelium: Lines the digestive tract from the esophagus to the anus. It is also found in the gallbladder, glands, reproductive system, and urinary tract.
Simple Columnar Epithelium with Brush Border: Lines portions of the upper respiratory tract, fallopian tubes, uterine and breast ducts, and the central canal of the spinal cord.
Stratified Squamous Epithelium: Found on the external surface of the body, forming the skin (epidermis).
Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium: Covers the urinary, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems.
Connective Tissue
Connective Tissue: Characterized by cells separated by an abundance of intercellular material composed of fibers and amorphous glycoproteins. Its fundamental substance is a protein polysaccharide. General functions include nutrition, providing support, merging muscle and bone to allow movement, and specialized functions in bone, teeth, and endothelial grids.
Types of Connective Tissue
Loose Areolar Connective Tissue: Widely distributed, thin, flexible, and resilient. Contains fibroblasts and mast cells. It is the basic substance around organs, muscles, arteries, and nerves. Forms membranes around the spinal cord and superficial fascia.
Loose Adipose Connective Tissue: Specialized areolar tissue containing many fat cells. Acts as a packaging material, elastic and found around organs and between muscle fibers. Protects the body from excessive heat or temperature fluctuations.
Loose Reticular Connective Tissue: A network of fine fibrils found in lymphoid organs, bone marrow, and the liver.
Dense Connective Tissue: Contains tightly packed elastic and collagen fibers arranged regularly (tendons and ligaments) or irregularly (dermis). Elastic tissue, where elastic fibers predominate, is found in the walls of large arteries, the trachea, and bronchi.
Specialized Connective Tissue: Cartilage
Specialized Connective Tissue: a) Cartilage: Firm tissue with cells (chondrocytes) embedded in a matrix.
Types of Cartilage
Hyaline Cartilage: The precursor to the skeletal system during embryonic development. Largely replaced by bone through ossification. Remains in articular surfaces, the trachea, bronchi, costal cartilages, and laryngeal cartilages of the nose. Fibrous cartilage contains dense collagen fibers and is dense and resistant to stretching.