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Connective Proper: Areolar
Fibers: collagen, elastic, reticular
Cell Types: fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, some white blood cells
Function: wraps and cushions organs; play role in immunity, freedom of movement
Location: under epithelia of body, surrounds organs/capillaries. |
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Connective Proper: Adipose
Fibers: hardly visible due to sparse matrix
Cell Types: fat cells
Function: provides food storage; supports and protects; insulates against heat loss
Location: under skin, mammary glands (breasts), bones |
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Connective Proper: Reticular
Fibers: network of reticular fibers
Cell Types: reticular cells are predominant
Function: fibers form a soft internal skeleton |
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Connective Proper: Dense Regular (tendon)
Fibers: parallel collagen fibers
Cell Types: fibroblasts
Function: attaches muscles to bones or to other muscles; attaches bones to bones; withstands stress, *tensile strength
Location: tendons, most ligaments |
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Connective Proper: Dense Irregular (skin)
Fibers: irregular collagen fibers
Cell Types: fibroblasts
Function: withstand tension, *structural strength
Location: dermis of skin, organs, joints |
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Bone
Fibers: collagen fibers
Cell Types: osteocytes
Function: supports and protects, storage of fat, calcium, red and white blood cells
Location: bones |
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Cartilage: Hyaline
Fibers: collagen fibers
Cell Types: chondroblasts, chondrocytes
Function: support; resists stres |
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Cartilage: Elastic
Fibers: elastic fibers and some collagen
Cell Types: chondroblasts, chondrocytes
Function: maintains shape while allowing flexibility |
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Cartilage: Fibrous
Fibers: thick collagen fibers
Cell Types: chondrocytes
Function: tensile strength, absorbs shock |