Connective Tissue Worksheet

Connective tissues can perform all of the following functions EXCEPT:

• Provide support and protection

• Serve as frameworks

• Fill spaces

• Initiate muscle contraction

What does the extracellular matrix of connective tissue consist of?

• Only protein fibers

• Only ground substance

• Protein fibers and ground substance

• Only water

Why is it important for most connective tissue cells to be able to divide?

• To help repair tissue damage

• To produce hormones

• To conduct nerve impulses

• To contract and relax

Which statement best describes macrophages in connective tissue?

• They are always fixed in one place.

• They secrete fibers into the matrix.

• They can detach from fibers and wander.

• They store energy as fat.

What is a key characteristic of elastic fibers in connective tissue?

• They are the strongest fibers in the body

• They can stretch and return to their original shape

• They are only found in bones

• They are not flexible at all

Which of the following best describes the function of mast cells in connective tissue?

• Form delicate supportive networks within tissues

• Release substances that may help prevent blood clotting and promote inflammation

• Hold structures together

• Provide elastic quality to parts that stretch

A patient has a connective tissue disorder that affects the ability to hold structures together. Which component is most likely affected?

• Collagen fibers

• Elastic fibers

• Mast cells

• Ground substance

Why is collagen vulnerable to disruption?

• It is a very flexible protein

• It has a very precise structure

• It is not found in connective tissues

• It is made up of carbohydrates

Which condition is characterized by asymmetric and too wide collagen chains, leading to stunted growth and deformed joints?

• Marfan syndrome

• Osteoporosis

• Chondrodysplasia

• Scurvy

Explain how areolar connective tissue supports epithelial cells.

• By producing hormones for epithelial cells

• By nourishing nearby epithelial cells with blood vessels

• By forming bone matrix

• By storing fat for epithelial cells