Lesson 6 - Connective Tissue Types - Fibrous Connective Tissues
Student Performance Objectives 1. Describe the function of the areolar connective tissue underlying all epithelial
surfaces. 2. Explain 4 functions for the areolar connective tissue underlying skin. 3. Explain the importance of investing fascia (dense, irregular connective tissue)
in the structure of the arms, legs and neck of a human being. 4. Describe the functions of deep fascia and organ capsules and give an example of
each. 5. Compare extrinsic and intrinsic ligaments and give an example of each. 6. Explain why elastic ligaments differ from all other ligaments and indicate where
they are found. 7. Explain the functions of tendons, tendon sheaths, bursae, and aponeuoses.
Lesson Outline A. Loose, irregular connective tissue (areolar connective tissue) - its major characteristic
is loose wrapping rather than strength. It also packs and fills spaces. It is the
most widely distributed connective tissue type found throughout the body. 1. Composed of ground substance, fibers (collagen and elastin arranged in a network)
and fibroblasts all in about equal proportions. 2. Attaches epithelial surfaces found throughout the body to the underlying tissues.
E.g., superficial fascia (or tela subcutanea) that is loose, irregular connective
tissue with a high fat (adipose) content. It forms a continuous sheet surrounding all parts
of the body just under the skin. It functions in a. Loosely but firmly attaching the skin to underlying tissues, but forming
a subdividing plane between the skin and what underlies it. b. Providing a passageway for blood vessels and nerves to reach the skin. c. Helps in body temperature regulation. d. Provides insulation. B. Dense, irregular connective tissue - separates and encloses body structures in
a matrix possessing fewer elastic and more collagen fibers which gives the tissue greater
strength than loose, irregular connective tissue. Fatty tissue is absent. The collagen fibers are oriented
in many directions in the tissue thus providing strength in many directions. The
periosteum, the tough wrapping on the surface of bone (to which tendons attach) is a good
example. http://www.austincc.edu/histologyhelp/tissues/tl_den_irreg_ct.html Other examples include: 1. Investing fascia - the cylindrically shaped neck, arms and legs are made up of
bone, nerves, blood vessels and other structures that need to be held together
(restrained) in an overall way. Investing fascia provides such restraint and is composed
or coarse aggregated collagenous fibers located just below (deeper than) the superficial
fascia (see above, A2) and is tougher than the deep fascia (see next item)
surrounding the muscles. 2. Deep fascia - encloses individual muscles, groups of muscles with related
functions, and separates groups of muscles from each other. Stronger than loose,
irregular connective tissue, but weaker than investing fascia (see above item). 3. Fibrous organ capsules - surround, help hold together and protect many
soft organs like the brain (meninges), kidney (renal capsule) and the spleen. C. Dense Regular Connective Tissue - composed of fibroblasts secreting dense strands
of collagen fibers oriented in one direction - the directions of stress in the tissue.
Provides great strength with virtually no "give" or elasticity. Examples are: 1. Ligament - generally short, flat, tough straps that attach bone to bone
at the joints by uniting with the bone's periosteum or the bone substance itself. Several
types are: a. Extrinsic ligaments - external to and reinforcing to the joint, sometimes
helping to hold several bones together. E.g., the annular ligament holding the radius to the humerus in the elbow. b. Intrinsic ligaments - located within a joint helping to hold the articulating
bones together. E.g., the cruciate ligaments within the knee joint helping to hold the femur and tibia together. c. Capsular ligaments - thickened sections of the joint capsule that reinforce
the capsule. (As a point of clarification - the joint space is surrounded
by a weak but lubricating, fibrous joint capsule whose inner lining is the synovial
membrane that secretes the lubricating synovial fluid). Capsular ligaments strengthen the joint capsule, and the extrinsic and intrinsic ligaments
complete the job of stabilizing and strengthening the joint as a whole. d. Elastic ligaments - these are exceptions to the rule that ligaments
are inelastic and contain only collagen. These are found in the neck and along the
vertebral column and provide the flexibility needed for the movements of the
head, neck and spinal column. They are yellow in color as opposed to the glistening
white color of other ligaments. E.g., the ligamentum nuchae of the neck and the ligamenta flava of adjacent vertebrae. 2. Tendon - these cylindrical or flattened (strap-like) bundles of collagenous
fibers connect muscle to bone. Often surrounded by areolar tissue that
delivers blood vessels to the tendon) . Structures associated with tendons are a. Tendon sheaths - these are fibrous tubes, interiorly lined with synovial membrane, that permit a tendon to move without friction in response
to a muscle's contraction. E.g., the tendon sheaths in the hands and feet
contain the tendons that transmit force from the forearm muscles to the fingers and
toes. b. Bursae (singular, bursa)- these are fragile fibrous sacs, lined on the
inside with synovial membrane, found where tendons are in contact with and cross over bones. They are often near joints but are not part of the joint. The bursae
relieve the potential friction, limited motion and potential damage that might
occur to the tendon under these circumstances. E.g., the shoulder and knee have
many such bursae. 3. Aponeurosis - a tendon widened into a flat sheet to accommodate the attachment
of a large, broad muscle (e.g., the latissimus dorsi) to several bones at the
same time. An aponeurosis can also serve as an attachment for muscles where no bone is
available but where strength is nevertheless needed (e.g., the three muscles of the
abdominal wall - external and internal obliques and the transverse abdominis) each
attach to the linea alba through their aponeuroses.
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