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Body tissues Classification

There were four basic types of tissues

1. Epithelial tissue line the cavities and surfaces of structures

throughout the body, and also form many glands

2. Muscle tissue is a soft tissue that composes muscles. It is

formed during embryo development in a process known
as myogenesis.
3. Nervous tissue is the main component of the two parts of
the nervous system which regulates and controls bodily
functions and activity.

4. Connective tissue (CT) is a kind of biological tissue

that Supports, Connects, or Separates different types of
tissues and organs of the body
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Connective Tissue

Connective tissue is the most diverse of the four tissue types with a
wide variety of cells, fibers and hence functions.

Mesenchyme develops also other types of structures, such as

blood cells, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells.

The connective tissue originate from the mesenchymal cells

which originate from the mesenchyme, a middle layer of the
embryo mesoderm.
Connective tissue Function
1. Storage of energy.
2. Protection of organs.
3. Providing structural framework for the body.
4. Connection of body tissues.
5. Transport.
6. Immunological defense.
7. Haemopoiesis.
8. Growth and repair.

Connective tissue consists of cells where some of those cells

secretes fibers and some secretes extracellular matrix .
 Connective tissue Classification
Connective tissue classified according to the type of the matrix into:

• Connective tissue proper : jelly like matrix.

• Supportive Connective Tissue

Cartilage : Rubbery matrix.
Bone : Solid matrix

• Vascular Connective Tissue (Blood and lymph): liquid.

 Connective tissue cells Fixed & Free.

Fixed Connective Tissue cells:

1. Un-differentaited Mesenchymal stem Cell (MSCs)

Site:
In bone marrow
and around
blood vessels.

Function:
Differentiates into:
Connective Tissue
cells, blood cells &
pericytes.
 Fixed Connective Tissue cells:
2. Pericytes: (U.M.C of adults)

Site: Around blood capillaries.

Function: Differentiates into fibroblast

& smooth muscle cells during healing.
Fixed Connective Tissue cells:
3. Fibroblasts:

Origin : Un-differentiated Mesenchyme Cells , Pericytes.

Site : Common in all types of C.T. proper.

Functions :

• Formation of C.T. fibers proteins (collagen, elastic & reticular)

• Formation of matrix
• Healing & repair.

4. Fibrocytes:
old inactive fibroblasts, less basophilic cytoplasm, less rER and
dark nucleus. They maintain the C.T.
 Fixed Connective Tissue cells:
5. Fat cells (Adipocytes):
Unilocular : In white adipose Connective Tissue
Multilocular : In brown adipose C.T.

• Responsible
for heat
generation.
• Responsible
for heat
insulation.
Fixed Connective Tissue cells:

6. Reticular cells

Site: Stroma of organs

and glands.

Function: Support
Phagocytic.
 Fixed Connective Tissue cells:

7. Fixed macrophages (Histiocytes):

Origin: Monocytes (one of WBC’s)

Function:

• Phagocytosis of
foreign bodies.

• Clean wounds
• Antigen
presenting cell.

• Destruction of
old RBC’s.
• Lipofuscin is the name given to finely
granular yellow-brown pigment
granulescomposed of lipid-containing
residues of lysosomal digestion. It is
considered to be one of the aging or "wear-
and-tear" pigments, found in the liver, kidney,
heart muscle, retina, adrenals, nerve cells,
and ganglion cells. It is specifically arranged
around the nucleus
Fixed Connective Tissue cells:

8. Pigment cells (melanophore):

Origin: macrophages that engulf melanin pigments formed by
melanocytes, Present in C.T. dermis of skin and eye.
 Free Connective Tissue cells:
1. Free macrophages:
origin, site, LM, EM, functions as fixed macrophages but differ
in wandering through C.T.

2. Blood leucocytes

3. Plasma cells:

Origin: B lymphocytes
 plasmablasts 
Plasma cell
Site: Lymphoid tissue.
Function: Production
of antibodies.
 4.Mast cells:
Origin: Site:
UMCs in bone marrow. Around blood vessels, Epith. of
respiratory and digestive tracts.
Function:
• Secretion of
histamine (vasodilator
in allergy).
• Secretion of heparin
(anticoagulant).
• Secretion of
eosinophil
chemotactic factor
Thank
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