Types of Connective Tissue

1) establishing a structural framwork for the body, 2) transporting fluids and dissolved materials from in body, 3) provides protection for delicate organs, 4) supports, surrounds, and interconnects other tissue types, 5) stores energy reserves (especially lipids), and 6) defends the body from invasion

1 Connective tissue proper

a type of connective tissue with many types of cells and extracellular fibers in a syrupy ground substance; two types: loose and dense

2 Loose CT proper

fibers create loose, open framework; types: areolar tissue, adipose tissue, and reticular tissue

Dense CT proper

fibers densely packed; types: dense regular, dense irregular, and elastic

Fluid connective tissue

-Watery matrix of dissolved proteins
-In blood, the watery matrix is called plasma
-Fluid connective tissue types:Blood and Lymph

blood

a type of fluid connective tissue; it is contained in the cardiovascular system

lymph

a type of fluid connective tissue; it is contained in the lymphoid system

Supporting connective tissue

less diverse cell population than CT proper and fluid connective tissue and matrix contains closely packed fibers; types:cartilage and bone

Cartilage

A strong connective tissue with varying degrees of flexibility. (1) Elastic cartilage is the most flexible, forming structures that reuqire support but also need to bend, such as the epiglottis and outer ear. (2) Hyaline cartilage is more rigid than elastic cartilage, and forms the cartilages of the ribs, the respiratory tract, and all joints. (3) Fibrocartilage is the least flexible of them all, and forms very strong connections, such as the public symphysis and the intervertebral disks.

bone

solid, crystalline matrix