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General
Mobile… histology
Dr. laila Ab.Sattar. Kareem
Hawler Medical University
College of health sciences
With Regards Department: Clinical
biochemistry

Lecture. 1
2hr
 Module name: General histology
Module code:

Lec. (4): CONNEVTIVE tissues

Prepared by: IMAN M. RASOOL

Second stage (3rd semester): MMD department

List of Contents:

•Connective tissues
•Classification, Functions & Composition
•A-Cells
1-Fixed cells. 2-Wandering cells.

B. fibers

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Connective tissues

Connective tissue: are group of tissue that connects and bind other
tissues in the body
 Connective
tissue

Cells Matrix

Ground
Fibers
substance
 Connective Tissue

• Connective tissue is the most

abundant and widely distributed
tissue in the body .

• All connective tissues have the

same embryonic origin- from
mesoderm
• According to the amount and role of
these three components (cells, fibers
and ground substance), there are
many types of connective tissue.

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 Classification of Connective Tissue
1. Proper Connective Tissue.
2. Specialized Connective Tissues:
a. Fluid Connective Tissue
• Blood
• Lymph
b. Supporting Connective Tissue
• Cartilage
• Bone

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 Characteristics of Connective Tissue :

1. It connects between the different

types of tissues and organs,
carrying their blood and nerve
supply.

2. It consists of three basic

elements (cells, ground substance
and fibers)

3. Does not occur on free surfaces, except for the joint

cavities which are lined by areolar connective tissue.
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4. It has connective tissue proper and specialized connective
tissue (blood, cartilage and bone).

5. Usually highly vascular, except for cartilage (avascular) and

tendons which have a small blood supply.

6. it has rich nerve supply, Except for cartilage.

7. Most cells can usually divide.

8. It is composed of cell and extra-cellular matrix which consists

of ground substance and fibers.

9. Matrix may be fluid, semi-fluid, gelatinous, fibrous, or

calcified and determines the qualities of the tissue,
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Connective tissue may serve different functions:

• Structural support (e.g. bones).

• Produce extracellular matrix.

• Storage of foodstuffs in the form of fats.

• Defense and protection it Defend against infections and help

in tissue repair and protection from foreign invaders.

• Binding, attachment and support (bones, tendons and

ligaments).

• Medium for exchange & Transportation - blood

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 Composition
1-Cells
Connective tissue cells are
found in two types:
• a- Fixed cells: are native
to tissues in which they
are found.

• b- Wandering cells : are

immigrant cells from
blood or bone marrow

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Fixed cells
1- Fibroblast
• Cells with big ER and Golgi complex
• Secrete the protein ingredients of the extracellular matrix e.g.
collagen and elastin
• Proliferate and migrate in response to tissue injury.
• Structurally there are 2 types :-
a - Active fibroblast
b- Fibrocytes

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•a - Active fibroblast :
1. Is a satellite with long
cytoplasmic processes

2. Has large , ovoid , pale

staining nucleus
3.cytoplasm contains abundant
ER & Golgi complexes
4. produce collagen & other
matrix

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b- Fibrocytes

1. spindle- shaped, (less active &

more mature than fibroblast)

2. Has dark , elongated nucleus with few

organelles,

3. It may revert to fibroblast.

2- Adipocytes : (white fat cells).
• Mostly just under the skin
• Store lipids in the form of single large droplet
• Different from brown fat cells that oxidize lipids to produce
heat.
3- Mesenchymal cells
• Cells characterized by an oval nucleus and prominent
nucleoli,

• Have many thin cytoplasmic processes

• Are the precursors (stem cells) of most cells of
connective tissues.

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4- Reticular cells :
1. Are satellite in shape

2. with long thin cytoplasmic

processes
3. have central , pale irregular
nuclei with prominent
nucleoli.
4. produce reticular fibers .

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b-WANDERING CELLS
1- Mast cells:
• Derived from the bone marrow precursors,
• Contain abundant basophilic granules
(heparin, histamine, anaphylaxin),
• Contain centrally located nuclei obscured
by granules with well developed Golgi
complexes ,

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 2- Macrophages:

1. Are large satellite cells

2. derived from the blood monocytes,
3. amoeboid in shape , engulf bacteria and
dead cell by phagocytosis,
4. have kidney – shaped , nucleus

• in CNS is called microglia,

• In liver called kupffers cells ,
• In bone called osteoclast.
• In lungs called dust cells

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3- Plasma cell:
• Are large ovoid cells
• have a basophilic cytoplasm due to their
richness in rough endoplasmic reticulum
• the nucleus is spherical eccentrically
placed
• Its function to produces antibodies.

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FIBERS
2- FIBERS
All fibers composed of protein molecules, and are in three basic types collagen, elastin &
reticular

A- Collagen fibers:
• Each collagen fiber
consists of aggregates
of tropocollagen
molecules

Each tropocollagen molecule is composed of 3 polypeptide chains which are helically

arranged around each other .
• There are many types of collagen, some of them form fibers & often form bundles
about (0.5 – 15) µm in diameter.

• Collagen fibers- are long, straight, and unbranched, are strong but flexible.
• is the most abundant protein in the body

• There are about (10) types of collagen, but the following are well characterized (TypeI
1 TENDON, TypeII 2 CARTILAGE ,TypeIII 3 RETICULAR, TypeIV4 B.M., TypeV5
HAIR &PLAENTA).

--Function:
is to provides tissues with tensile strength

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Tropocollagen
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triple helix. 24
B-Elastic fibers
• Long threads composed of rubber like
glycoprotein called elastin protein.
• Are coiled branching fibers. which has ability to
return to its origin shape after compression.
• It is found in the aorta (elastic artery ), epiglottis
& elastic cartilage.

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C-Reticular fibers
• Very thin and branched fibers, resemble collagen fibers, form a
delicate silver staining networks instead of bundles they forms
supportive networks around hematopoietic tissues (ex. Spleen,
Lymph nodes, Red bone marrow.
• Reticular fibers consists mainly of collagen type III.

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Q1/ Define connective tissue, Adipose tissue, Mesenchymal cells,
Reticular cells , ,, Mast cells, Plasma cell
Q2/ Enumerate the types of connective tissue

Q3/Enumerate Characteristics of Connective Tissue :

Q4/ Enumerate the functions: giving an example of each one.

Q5/ What are type of connective tissue cells?

Q6/ Write 3 differences between fibroblast & fibrocyte cells

Q7/ Define macrophage and write its name in in CNS , In liver, In

bone & In lungs

Q8/ Enumerate & explain types of fiber