CONNECTIVE TISSUE FIBERS

Dr Iram Tassaduq

CONNECTIVE TISSUE FIBERS

Formed by proteins Three types of fibers Collagen Elastic Reticular Uneven distribution

COLLAGEN FIBERS Most abundant type

of C.T. fibers May be collected

together to form a bundle of greater size

Straight or slightly wavy course of fibers

Loosely or densely packed fibers

Staining

TYPES OF COLLAGEN

TYPES OF COLLAGEN

RETICULAR FIBERS Rete is a latin word

which means net 0.5—2 um in diameter Composed of type III

collagen Provide supporting

frame work Occurs as fine network

around small blood vessels, muscle fibers, nerve fibers and lymphoid organs

Not distinguishable in ordinary H&E staining due to their thinness.

o Can be visualized with PAS staining, seen as red strands by due to presence of carbohydrates

Called argyrophilic fibers because of their high affinity for silver salts.

ELASTIC FIBERS

Typically thinner than collagen fibers

Arranged in branching pattern to form a three dimensional network

Interwoven with collagen fibers

Provide tissue with ability to respond to stretch and distension

ELASTIC FIBERS Composed of two

structural components Elastin Fibrillin 1 Elastic property of elastin

molecules is related to its unusual polypeptide backbone that causes random coiling

Elastic material is a major extra cellular substance in vertebral ligaments, larynx & elastic arteries

TYPES OF INTERCELLULAR SUBSTANCE

Amorphous

Fibrous

Glycosaminoglycans

Glycoproteins

Collagen FibersElastic Fibers

Reticular fibers

GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS

Polysaccharides containing amino sugar

Secretion products of C.T. cells especially fibroblasts

Stain with basic dyes Exhibit metachromasia

GLYCOPROTEINS Proteins with one or more heterosaccharide

chains containing hexosamine, galactose, & other sugars

These include:FibronectinLamininTenascinOsteopontin

TYPES OF CONNECTIVE

TISSUE

MESENCHYMAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE

oMesenchyme forms the undifferentiated "filling" of the early embryo.o It consists of mesenchymal cells, which interconnect by slender cell processes. oMesenchymal cells have stem cell properties, i.e. they are able give rise to other cell and tissues types.

MESENCHYME

MUCOUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE

oIt contain a large amount of ground substance. o Found in the umbilical cord (Wharton's jelly) and in embryonic tissues.

MUCOUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE

LOOSE AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Widely distributed Provide supporting

framework Acts as embedding

medium for blood vessels and nerves

LOOSE AREOLAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

RETICULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Consist of reticular cells and fibers

Cells are stellate shape

Form stroma of liver,spleen and bone marrow

DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

DENSE REGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE

ADIPOSE TISSUE