ANP 1105 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Reticular Fiber, Elastic Fiber, Extracellular Fluid

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Anatomy and Physiology
• Course: ANP 1105
• Professor: Jacqueline Carnegie

Document Summary

Structural elements of ct: ground substance (unstructured material to fill space between cells and contains the fibers) Made of: interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans: ct fibers. Collagen molecules assemble spontaneously into cross-linked fibrils, then are bundled into thick collagen fibers (high tensile strength: elastic fibers. Its coiled structure allows stretch and recoil: reticular fibers. Form a delicate network to support blood vessels and soft tissues. Every majors class of ct has a cell type: Blasts immature- actively dividing and synthesizing cells during growth and repair. Cytes mature- provide a level of maintenance. Mesenchymal cells + fluid ground substance and fine fibrils = source of other cts: ct proper, loose ct, areolar ct. Loose arrangement of fibers; reservoir for water and salts but is also a prime site of edema during inflammatory reactions. Functions: cushioning organs, immunity and inflammation; fluid reservoir: adipose tissue. Fat-filled adipocytes with displaced nuclei; do not reproduce; scanty matrix.