CONNECTIVE TISSUES LABProfessor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103 |
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connective tissue (dermis overlaid with epidermis) |
This page has been accessed 14 October 1991, rvsd 18 Oct. '94, 12 Sept '95, 23 Sept. '96, 10 Oct 96, 24 Sept '97. 11 Sept 99, 13 Oct 99, 28 Sept 01 |
(adipose tissue) |
Connective tissue consist of cells
embedded in an extracellular matrix. The matrix consists of
fibers and
ground substance. The characteristic traits of different classes
of
connective tissue are due
to differences in the composition, relative density and
arrangement of
its
components. Note how each of these connective tissues is unique
in
composition, and the manner in which that is related to its
function.
We will first examine organs in the
dissected cat which exemplify the types of connective tissue
whose histology you will be studying:
| LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE |
Loose
Areolar C.T. |
superficial fascia
showing
collagen fibers
(ties skin to body) |
| Adipose C.T. | perirenal
fat, fat tissue near the inguinal regions |
|
| DENSE REGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE |
Reticular C.T. | lymph
nodes (especially imbedded in the mesenteries |
| White Fibrous C.T. | Achilles
tendon, attaches gastrocnemius to calcaneus |
|
| Yellow Elastic C.T. | nuchal ligament (dorsal
neck), wall
of the aorta |
|
| DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE |
Dense Irregular C.T. | Dermis (inner portion of
skin), renal
capsule |
Examine the following slides,
identify
the listed features, and illustrate a typical 400x field
displaying
these features (100x for Areolar).
(Follow instructions given in Notebook
Illustrations
and general directions given in Epithelial
Tissues Lab
Protocols.)
| Histology |
LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE (AREOLAR) | Features |
| a. (slide
7)
Areolar
Connective Tissue
(VE: fig
2-1, p
31) |
fibroblast
pale,
most
common cell collagenous fibers pink, in masses elastic fibers stained purple difficult to distinguish: macrophage, larger and darker than a fibroblast mast cell, possesses granular cytoplasm |
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b. (slide
8) Adipose
Tissue
(VE: fig.
2-11, p
39) |
adipose
cells (or "adipocytes")
cytoplasm looks empty because fat is dissolved away
adipose nuclei compressed along edge of cell ("signet ring" appearance) fibroblast cells between adjacent adipose cells mesothelium at the edge, if present |
| [Not required for this lab, but for
completeness:] Reticular Tissue in a lymph node, slide 14 from lymphatic system, A&P 203 (VE: fig . 8-3. p. 127) |
reticular fibers (stained
with
Ag/Au stain) Note the trabeculae (partitions) also composed of reticular fibers. |
| DENSE
REGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE |
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| c. (slide
9) White
Fibrous Tissue (tendon) (VE: fig.2-5, p 35) Draw a
longitudinal section. Here is a
labeled
version of the Dense Regular Connective Tissue. |
fibroblasts
flattened in rows collagenous fibers in parallel bundles [bundle of tendon fibers seen in c.s.] |
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d. (slide
10)
Yellow
Elastic (slide is from bovine nuchal ligament)
(VE: fig. 8-4, p 115 in the aorta) Draw the
longitudinal section |
fibroblast
nuclei distributed through tissue
collagenous fibers woven in appearance (due to the contraction by elastin) elastic fibers occupy "open spaces" (visible only if specially stained as with Verhoeff's stain) |
| DENSE
IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE |
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| e. (slide
15) Dense
Irregular
Connective Tissue (VE: fig. 2-7, p 37) (skin, mammal): |
Here is a 100x view of a cross
section of skin.
Note that the epidermis is on top, and the dermis
underlies it. fibroblasts scattered throughout dermis collagen bundles in masses, irregularly arranged in various directions venule (Here is dermis with a venule) Here is the dermis labeled. |
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