Building Blocks of Connective Tissue

Match the following vocabulary to the correct description.

• elastic fiber

• the strongest/largest/most abundant fiber

• ground substance

• all materials found outside of the cells

• extracellular matrix

• this fiber forms a net-like scaffolding arrangement

• collagen fiber

• this fiber is able to stretch and recoil

• reticular fiber

• the "filling" between the fibers and the cells

Match the following cells to their role in connective tissue.

• produce the extracellular matrix of CT

• mast cells

• make protein antibodies

• adipocytes

• fat cells; energy storage

• fibroblasts

• engulf foreign substances/invaders

• macrophages

• release histamine for local inflammation

• plasma cells

Which cell is shown here cleaning up the bacteria (small, dark spots)?

Which cell is shown here assembling collagen fibers in the extracellular spaces?

Which connective tissue resident immune cell are shown here (in purple)?

Which connective tissue cell is shown here?

Which resident connective tissue immune cell is shown here?

Fill in this flowchart that illustrates some of the components that CT is built with.

c

d

e

f

b

a

fibroblasts

collagen fibers

extracellular matrix

protein fibers

specialized cells

ground substance

All types of mature connective tissue originate (arise) from embryonic connective tissue known as :

These CT cells are:

• fibroblasts

• adipocytes

• macrophages

• plasma cells

• mast cells

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-LS1-2