Connective Tissue Types and Properties - MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

Skin is composed of epithelial cells, and is therefore not an example of connective tissue. The major types of connective tissue include bone, adipose, blood, and cartilage. Connective tissue is responsible for binding and support of other tissue.

Any tissues can essentially be broken down into epithelium (or endothelium), muscle tissue, neural tissue, or connective tissue.

Connective tissues are defined as cells suspended in an expansive extracellular matrix. For blood, plasma serves as the matrix that suspends erythrocytes. Other types of connective tissue include cartilage, bone, and adipose.

Any kind of muscle, nervous, or epithelial cell is in its own category, separate from connective tissue. Skin is a type of epithelium, and the heart is composed of cardiac muscle tissue.

Bone is considered a connective tissue. The hydroxyapatite crystal forms a generous amount of extracellular matrix, helping to connect the cells of the bone. This large amount of extracellular material is a defining characteristic of connective tissue.

Nervous tissue carries electrical impulses through the body. Muscular tissue is involved in contraction. Epithelium lines the biological lumens and areas exposed to the external environment, including the tracts for respiration, digestion, and excretion. Endothelium lines the tracts that are fully contained in the body, namely the circulatory system and heart chambers.

Chondrin is the elastic matrix found in cartilaginous connective tissue. In order to identify where chondrin can be found in the body, we should identify where in the body we would find cartilage.

The ears and nose are some of the few structures on the adult human body that contain cartilage. Other cartilage structures include the vertebral discs, public symphysis, menisci in the knees, and most sternocostal joints.

The human skull is formed by intramembranous ossification, a process in which mesenchymal stem cells form osteoblasts and eventually bone. Note that there is no cartilage involved in this process. Long bones, such as the femur, are formed by the process of endochondral ossification, in which cartilage is converted into bone. This process occurs long before adulthood, however, and would not be a reasonable answer in this case. Diaphyses of bones are composed of compact and spongy bone. Haversian canals house blood vessels, nerves, and lymph within bone.

Tendons link skeletal muscle to bone. When skeletal muscle contracts and shortens, the tendon pulls the bone in the direction of the muscle contraction to propel movement.

Ligaments serve to link bone to bone, mainly playing a role in stability rather than force transduction. Cartilage is the main tissue of the ears and nose, and generally provides structure or biological cushioning. Adipose is fat tissue, responsible for storing water and nutrients for extended periods.

Ligaments serve to link bone to bone, mainly playing a role in stability rather than force transduction. Once a tendon has pulled on the bone, ligaments provide a mechanism for nearby bones to follow, allowing for a smooth and coordinated movement.

Tendons link skeletal muscle to bone. Cartilage is the main tissue of the ears and nose, and generally provides structure or biological cushioning. Adipose is fat tissue, responsible for storing water and nutrients for extended periods.

Cartilage does not contain blood vessels. Chondrocytes, the specialized cells of cartilage, are supplied by diffusion, which slows growth and repair. While they do produce collagen, this is not the direct reason for the relatively slow growth of cartilage.

Tissue, by definition, is made up of groups of similar cells. However, these cells may be suspended in a living, cellular matrix, or in a nonliving, noncellular matrix. For example, muscle tissue is composed of tightly packed cells in an organized matrix; however, blood is comprised of scattered cells in an aqueous plasma matrix. It is important to remember that all living components of the body are made entirely of tissue, so bone, blood, fat, etc. must fit the definiton of tissue.

Hyaline cartilage is rigid, glassy in appearance, and provides cushioning for smooth joints. Fibrocartilage is fibrous and provides support in high-stress areas, such as the pubic symphysis. Elastic cartilage is flexible and makes up fleshy appendages, such as the nose and ears.

Homeostasis, or "steady-state" physiology, is the system of feedback loops that enables an organism to create a stable, adaptive environment. For example, the pancreas and the brain together work to regulate the blood sugar levels via the hormones insulin and glucagon.

The four types of tissue are muscular, connective, nervous, and epithelial.

Muscular tissue encompasses skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. Nervous tissue creates the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS, PNS) and consists of all neurons and glial cells. Epithelial tissue makes up "borders" and lines most organs. Connective tissue generally fills spaces and provides the suspensory matrices for the body, such as bone, fat, blood, and cartilage.

Immovable joints are fused shortly after birth, so that they are no longer functional for articulation. The bones of the skull remain open, joined with strips of cartilage, until an infant has passed through the birth canal. They stay open for a short period, giving the baby's brain room to grow. After the brain has finished its major growth stages, the bones of the skull knit together, forming a protective barrier.

The type of muscle that lines the walls of most blood vessels in the human body is smooth muscle. We are told to make the assumption that the muscle types and cells present in Lorempis marengis are the same, structurally and functionally, as those found in humans. Therefore, the type of muscle that lines the walls of most blood vessels in Lorempis marengis is also smooth muscle. Blood vessels contain a specific subtype of smooth muscle, called vascular smooth muscle, that helps to regulate the distribution of blood volume throughout the entire body by either appropriately contracting or relaxing to restrict or increase blood flow to various parts of the body to best meet bodily needs (typically oxygen delivery).

Skeletal muscle cells, also known as striated muscles, are the type of muscle cells that make up the larger, weight-bearing muscles of the body. These are not the type of muscle cells that are found within the walls of blood vessels. The biceps muscles are the muscles responsible for flexion of the forearm at the elbow. They are not a type of muscle cell, per se, and they are made up of skeletal muscle cells.

Cardiac muscle cells are the type of muscle cells that make up the myocardium, or muscle cells of the heart. These are not the type of muscle cells that are found within the walls of blood vessels.

Homeostasis, or "steady-state" physiology, is the system of feedback loops that enables an organism to create a stable, adaptive environment. For example, the pancreas and the brain together work to regulate the blood sugar levels via the hormones insulin and glucagon.

Immovable joints are fused shortly after birth, so that they are no longer functional for articulation. The bones of the skull remain open, joined with strips of cartilage, until an infant has passed through the birth canal. They stay open for a short period, giving the baby's brain room to grow. After the brain has finished its major growth stages, the bones of the skull knit together, forming a protective barrier.

Tendons connect muscles to bones, allowing for the muscle contraction to affect the bone and result in articulation. Tendons are essential to provide articulation and leverage points to for motion and locomotion.

The four types of tissue are muscular, connective, nervous, and epithelial.

Muscular tissue encompasses skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. Nervous tissue creates the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS, PNS) and consists of all neurons and glial cells. Epithelial tissue makes up "borders" and lines most organs. Connective tissue generally fills spaces and provides the suspensory matrices for the body, such as bone, fat, blood, and cartilage.

Connective tissues are defined as cells suspended in an expansive extracellular matrix. For blood, plasma serves as the matrix that suspends erythrocytes. Other types of connective tissue include cartilage, bone, and adipose.

Any kind of muscle, nervous, or epithelial cell is in its own category, separate from connective tissue. Skin is a type of epithelium, and the heart is composed of cardiac muscle tissue.

Skin is composed of epithelial cells, and is therefore not an example of connective tissue. The major types of connective tissue include bone, adipose, blood, and cartilage. Connective tissue is responsible for binding and support of other tissue.

Any tissues can essentially be broken down into epithelium (or endothelium), muscle tissue, neural tissue, or connective tissue.