connective tissue

• Areolar connective tissue


  Structure: some blood vessels. Locations in human body: subcutaneous layer, surrounds and covers some organs. Functions: stores energy: insulates, cushions and protects
• Areolar connective tissue


  • Elastic fiber
  • Collagen fiber
  • Fibroblast
  • Mast cell
  • Ground substance
• Adipose connective tissue


  Structure: closely packed adipocytes, nucleus are pushed to the edge of cell by large fat droplet, contains blood vessels. Locations in human body:subcutaneous layer, surrounds and covers some organs. Functions: stores energy, insulates, cushions and protects
• Adipose connective tissue


  • Plasma (cell) membrane of each cell
  • Nucleus
  • Fat-storage area
  • Adipocyte
• Reticular connective tissue


  Locations in human body: spleen, red bone marrow. Functions: supportive framework: stroma to lymphatic organs
• Reticular connective tissue


  • Leukocyte
  • Reticular fiber
  • Fibroblast
• Dense regular connective tissue (white fibrous c.t.)

  Locations in human body: Tendon that attaches to muscle bone. Functions: Attaches bone to bone, and resists stress applied in one direction
• Dense regular connective tissue (white fibrous c.t.)

  • Collagen fiber; parallel array
  • Fibroblast
  • Limited blood supply
• Dense irregular connective tissue

  Locations in human body: dermis, perichondrium covering cartilage. Functions: handles stress applied from different directions and is durable.
• Dense irregular connective tissue

  • Collagen fiber
  • Fibroblast
• Elastic connective tissue


  Locations in human body: walls of elastic arteries, and trachea. Functions: stretching and recoil
• Elastic connective tissue


  • Collagen fiber
  • Fibroblast
  • Smooth muscle
  • Elastic lamellae
• Hyaline cartilage connective tissue

  Locations in human body: tip of nose trachea, fetal skeleton. Functions:
• Hyaline cartilage connective tissue

  • Nucleus of chondrocyte
  • Chondrocyte in lacunae
  • Extracellular matrix
• Fibrocartilage connective tissue

  Locations in human body: intervertebral discs, menisci of knee joints. Functions: resists compression, absorbs shock in joints.
• Fibrocartilage connective tissue


  • Nucleus of chondrocyte
  • Chondrocyte in lacunae
  • Collagen fiber
  • Extracellular matrix
• Elastic cartilage connective tissue

  Locations in human body: external ear, epiglottis of larynx. Functions: Maintains shape while permitting extensive flexibility, protect
• Elastic cartilage connective tissue

  • Nucleus of chondrocyte
  • Chondrocyte in lacunae
  • Elastic fiber
  • Extracellular matrix
• Compact bone connective tissue


  Locations in human body: bones of the body. Functions: provided levers for body movement, protects organs,
• Compact bone connective tissue

  • Central canal
  • Osteon
  • Lacuna (location of osteocyte)
• Blood connective tissue


  Function: transport air and nutrients
• Blood connective tissue


  • Erythrocyte
  • Leukocyte
  • Platelet
  • Extracellular matrix (plasma)
• Mast cell: Found in loose (areolar) connective tissue throughout the body, in virtually every organ