Tissues, Part 4 - Types of Connective Tissues: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology #5

Summary

This script delves into the intricacies of connective tissues, highlighting their diversity and functions in the human body. It explains how connective tissues, including loose and dense varieties, cartilage, and bone, are more closely related than they appear. The discussion also touches on the role of cooking in making these tissues edible and the importance of these tissues in our bodies, from providing support to facilitating movement. The script concludes by emphasizing the importance of tissues in maintaining the structure and function of our organs.

Takeaways

• 🥩 **Physical Similarity**: Humans are physically similar to raw meat, with muscle tissues like chicken breast or steak being tender enough to eat raw.
• 🔥 **Cooking Necessity**: Cooking meat is essential to break down connective tissues that are difficult to chew and digest.
• 🤔 **Connective Tissue Diversity**: Connective tissues, including tendons and fat, are diverse and don't fit neatly into other tissue categories.
• 🧬 **Embryonic Origin**: Despite their varied appearances, connective tissues like tendons, bones, and fat are closely related, all originating from the same embryonic cells.
• 🍗 **Cooking and Denaturation**: Cooking meat denatures protein fibers in connective tissues, making them soft and edible, as seen with the easy removal of roasted chicken skin.
• 🌟 **Connective Tissue Types**: There are four main types of connective tissues: loose connective tissue, dense connective tissue, cartilage, and bone tissue, each with specific functions and locations in the body.
• 👋 **Loose Connective Tissue**: Loose connective tissues like areolar tissue are found throughout the body, providing support and flexibility, and include adipose tissue which stores fat.
• 💪 **Dense Connective Tissue**: Dense connective tissues, such as tendons and ligaments, are composed of tightly packed collagen fibers, providing strength and resistance to tension.
• 🦴 **Cartilage Varieties**: There are three types of cartilage—hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage—each offering different levels of support, flexibility, and shock absorption.
• 🩸 **Blood as Connective Tissue**: Blood, composed of cells and plasma, is a type of connective tissue that connects body parts and provides rigidity, transporting essential substances throughout the body.

Q & A

What is the primary reason humans began to cook meat?

Humans began to cook meat primarily to break down connective tissues that are difficult to chew, making the meat more edible.

How does cooking affect the connective tissues in meat?

Cooking denatures the protein fibers in connective tissues, making them soft and pliable, which is essential for making tough tissues like tendons and ligaments edible.

What is the difference between loose and dense connective tissues?

Loose connective tissues have fewer fibers and more ground substance, while dense connective tissues have a higher concentration of fibers, providing more strength and less flexibility.

What is areolar tissue and where is it commonly found in the human body?

Areolar tissue is a type of loose connective tissue found beneath the epithelial layer of the skin and around organs. It has a loose arrangement of fibers and is known for its ability to hold watery ground substance.

What is the function of adipose tissue in the human body?

Adipose tissue, a type of loose connective tissue, is primarily composed of adipocytes that store lipids for energy, insulate the body against heat loss, and contribute to body fat distribution.

How does the structure of dense regular connective tissue contribute to its function?

Dense regular connective tissue, found in tendons and ligaments, has tightly packed collagen fibers running parallel. This structure provides great resistance to tension in one direction, which is essential for connecting muscles to bones and binding bones together at joints.

What is the role of dense irregular connective tissue in the body?

Dense irregular connective tissue, with its thicker and randomly arranged collagen fibers, is found in areas where tension may be exerted in multiple directions, such as the dermis layer of the skin.

Why is dense elastic connective tissue important for the body's movement?

Dense elastic connective tissue, which is rich in elastic fibers, provides both support and flexibility, allowing for movement in joints and the curvature of the spine.

How does cartilage function as a connective tissue?

Cartilage, a type of connective tissue without blood or nerves, resists both tension and compression. It provides support and flexibility, as seen in structures like the nose and the discs between vertebrae.

What are the two main types of bone tissue and their functions?

Spongy bone tissue is found in the heads of long bones and the inner layer of flat bones, providing strength with its porous structure and housing bone marrow. Compact bone tissue is dense and forms the external layer of bones, storing calcium for bone cell use.

Why is blood considered a type of connective tissue?

Blood is considered a connective tissue because it connects distant parts of the body, provides some rigidity, and is composed of cells surrounded by an extracellular matrix, in this case, blood plasma with dissolved proteins.

Outlines

00:00

🥩 The Significance of Connective Tissue in Meat Consumption

This paragraph explores the physical similarities between humans and raw meat, emphasizing the role of connective tissues in meat. It explains that while muscle tissues like chicken breast or steak can be eaten raw, connective tissues require cooking to become palatable. The paragraph delves into the history of cooking meat to break down these tough tissues, which are not easily chewed. It also touches on the diversity of connective tissues, their embryonic origins, and their extracellular matrix dominated by fibers. The discussion highlights how cooking denatures protein fibers in connective tissues, making them soft and edible, using the example of a roasted chicken's skin. The paragraph concludes by acknowledging the deceptive appearances of connective tissues and their importance in our diet.

05:00

🦴 Types and Functions of Connective Tissues in the Human Body

The second paragraph delves into the various types of connective tissues found in the human body, starting with dense and loose connective tissue proper. It describes areolar tissue, the most common loose connective tissue, and its role in holding watery ground substance. Adipose tissue, or fat, is highlighted for its energy storage and insulation properties. Reticular tissue is introduced as a framework for organs like the spleen and bone marrow. The paragraph then contrasts loose connective tissues with dense regular and dense irregular tissues, explaining their structural differences and locations in the body. It also covers dense elastic tissue, found in areas requiring elasticity like joints and arteries. The discussion moves on to cartilage, a different type of connective tissue, and its three subtypes: hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage, each serving different functions in the body. The paragraph concludes with a brief overview of bone as calcified connective tissue and blood as a connective tissue that connects and supports the body's parts through transportation of various substances.

Keywords

💡Connective Tissue

Connective tissue is a diverse group of tissues that provide support, structure, and protection in the body. In the video, it is explained as a type of tissue that is not as uniform as muscle, nervous, or epithelial tissues but plays a crucial role in the body's structure. Examples include tendons, ligaments, and adipose tissue, which are all derived from the same embryonic cells and are characterized by an extracellular matrix rich in fibers.

💡Collagen Fibers

Collagen fibers are the main structural component of connective tissues, providing strength and flexibility. The video uses the example of a chicken's skin, which is anchored by connective tissue rich in collagen fibers, making it difficult to remove without cooking. Once cooked, the collagen fibers denature, allowing the skin to peel off easily.

💡Loose Connective Tissue

Loose connective tissue is a subtype of connective tissue that contains fewer fibers and more ground substance, allowing for more flexibility. The video mentions areolar tissue as an example, which is found all over the body and provides a supportive but flexible matrix for organs and other tissues.

💡Dense Connective Tissue

Dense connective tissue is characterized by a higher concentration of fibers, particularly collagen, which gives it strength and resistance to tension. The video explains that dense connective tissue is found in tendons and ligaments, which require a strong, non-stretchable structure to connect muscles to bones and bind bones together.

💡Areolar Tissue

Areolar tissue is a type of loose connective tissue that is found just under the skin and around organs. It is composed of a loose arrangement of collagen and elastin fibers, with a lot of open space, allowing it to hold the watery ground substance that surrounding tissues need. The video emphasizes its sponge-like quality.

💡Adipose Tissue

Adipose tissue, or fat tissue, is a type of loose connective tissue that stores lipids for energy and provides insulation against heat loss. The video points out that adipose tissue makes up about 18 percent of an average person's weight and is crucial for survival during periods of food scarcity.

💡Reticular Tissue

Reticular tissue is a specialized form of loose connective tissue that provides a soft internal framework for organs like the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. It is composed of reticular fibers, which form a woven mesh that supports developing blood cells and holds blood in place within these organs.

💡Dense Irregular Tissue

Dense irregular tissue is a subtype of dense connective tissue with collagen fibers arranged in a thick, irregular pattern. This structure allows it to resist tension from multiple directions, as seen in the dermis layer of the skin. The video highlights its role in providing strength and flexibility where needed.

💡Dense Elastic Tissue

Dense elastic tissue is a type of connective tissue that contains a high amount of elastic fibers, allowing it to stretch and return to its original shape. The video mentions that it is found in areas like the spine and large arteries, where both support and flexibility are required.

💡Cartilage

Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that is flexible, yet strong, and provides support and cushioning in the body. The video discusses three types of cartilage: hyaline, elastic, and fibrocartilage, each with unique properties suited to their functions, such as providing support in the nose or absorbing shock in joints.

💡Bone Tissue

Bone tissue, or osseous tissue, is a calcified connective tissue that forms the structure of bones. The video explains that it comes in two forms: spongy bone tissue, which is porous and found in the heads of long bones, and compact bone tissue, which is dense and forms the external layer of bones. Both types are essential for support and protection.

💡Blood

Blood is classified as a connective tissue in the body, despite not fitting the typical image of connective tissue. The video describes blood as a fluid connective tissue composed of cells suspended in plasma, which serves to transport nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and waste throughout the body, connecting distant parts and providing rigidity where needed.

Highlights

Humans are physically similar to meat in terms of muscle tissue.

Connective tissue in meat requires cooking to make it edible.

Connective tissues are diverse and don't fit neatly into other tissue groups.

Cooking meat denatures protein fibers, making them soft and edible.

Connective tissues originate from the same embryonic cells and are dominated by an extracellular matrix.

Loose connective tissue has fewer fibers and more ground substance, exemplified by areolar tissue.

Adipose tissue is a type of loose connective tissue that stores lipids and insulates the body.

Reticular tissue provides a soft internal framework in organs like the spleen and bone marrow.

Dense connective tissue is found in tendons and ligaments, providing resistance to tension.

Dense irregular connective tissue is found in the dermis and provides strength in multiple directions.

Dense elastic tissue, like in artery walls, provides both support and flexibility.

Cartilage is a type of connective tissue that resists both tension and compression.

Hyaline cartilage is the most common type, providing pliable support in the ribcage and nose.

Elastic cartilage contains more elastic fibers and is found in the ear, providing strength and flexibility.

Fibrocartilage is a shock absorber, found in intervertebral discs and knee joints.

Bone is a calcified connective tissue that supports and protects body structures.

Blood is a connective tissue that connects distant body parts and provides rigidity.

Blood's main function is to transport cells, nutrients, hormones, and wastes.

Connective tissues are crucial for the body's organization and communication between systems.

Transcripts

Technically, we’re all just meat.

Yeah, you could say that what makes us human is our emotions, or thoughts, or memories,

but physically, we’re not all that different from this.

We’re used to thinking of meat as the muscle tissue that people cook and eat -- but the

fact is, you could eat that stuff raw. A chicken breast or a steak or a pork chop is tender

enough that it doesn’t need cooking.

What does need cooking is all of the connective tissue that’s in and around the muscle,

and gets in the way of our meal.

So one of the main reasons humans began to roast, and boil, and bake meat in the first

place, was to break down those connective tissues that we can’t chew, so we could get the meat.

Now, you might’ve noticed that connective tissues kind of seem like a grab bag of materials

that don’t really fit in other groups.

Our muscle, nervous, and epithelial tissue types are more uniform, more obviously grouped

together. Sometimes, our connective tissues just seem like the leftovers you throw in the stew pot.

But appearances are deceiving, and our inability as a species to tolerate these tissues in

our food is just one reminder that no matter how different tendon, bone, or a hunk of fat

may appear, they are indeed very closely related.

They all spring from the same embryonic cells, and their structures are dominated, not by

cells, but by an extracellular matrix full of fibers.

And it’s those fibers that have given humans the most trouble in our meat-eating history.

It wasn’t until we figured out how to cook the stuff the that we were able to denature, or

change the natural structure of, those protein fibers so that they became soft and pliable.

Take a chicken for example. You couldn’t just pull the skin off a living bird -- like

ethically you couldn’t do that but also you probably couldn’t.

Its living skin is anchored by connective tissue that’s full of collagen fibers. But

if you roast that chicken, and break apart that collagen, suddenly the skin just peels

right off with no effort at all.

So connective tissues, as evidenced by this mess here, are good reminders of how sometimes

things are more similar than they appear.

They’re also delicious . . . if you’re into that.

So we know what our connective tissues have in common, and we know that we’ve got four

different types -- but what do they look like, what do they do, and where are they found

-- both in your butcher shop, and on your body?

Perhaps your most diverse type is your classic connective tissue proper. It comes in both

loose and dense subclasses, based on how many fibers it has in its ground substance.

Pull on the back of your hand. See that fleshy tent there? That’s one example of loose

connective tissue. There’s a lot of ground substance in here, and the elastin fibers

help it snap back into place, while the collagen helps anchor it so you can’t, like, snag

your skin on a zipper and watch it just fly off.

But try pulling on your Achilles’ tendon, or these wing tendons here, and there isn’t

a lot of give. That’s because a tendon is an example of dense connective tissue, with

a lot more collagen. You could chew and chew and chew on a collagen-dense tendon and never

get anywhere. That’s why butchers trim off most dense connective tissue before selling cuts of meat.

So loose connective tissues have fewer fibers, and more cells and more ground substance.

Areolar tissue is the most common loose connective tissue you have, found ALL over your body,

just under your epithelial tissue, and wrapped around your organs.

It’s got a loose and random arrangement of fibers, with just a few fibroblast cells

that make those fibers. If you look at it under a microscope you’ll see that its most

obvious feature is that it looks like it has a lot of open space in it.

This makes areolar tissue makes it great at holding the watery, salty ground substance

that surrounding tissues draw from.

Your adipose tissue, meanwhile, is your fat tissue, the loose connective tissue that’s in here.

Rather than being mostly ground substance, this one is mostly cells -- adipocytes -- which

store lipids for later use, insulate the body against heat loss, and grow pot bellies and love handles.

The average person’s weight is about 18 percent adipose tissue, and it’s those fat

stores that keep us alive when food is scarce. With no fat stores, you’d die within a few

days of your last sandwich.

Reticular tissue is like areolar tissue, but with a woven mess of reticular fibers -- rather

than collagen and elastin fibers -- hence the name.

This tissue provides the soft internal framework, or stroma, of the spleen, lymph nodes, and

bone marrow, and it supports lots of developing blood cells. Just as your areolar tissue is

a kind of sponge for watery ground substance, your reticular tissue is what holds your blood

in place in many of your organs.

Really, all of these loose connective tissue proper types share an airy dispersal of fibers

... which is why they’re easier to eat after cooking -- and why you can pull cooked chicken skin apart.

On the other hand, you can’t easily rip a tendon or ligament in two, or even chew

it, because it’s made of that dense regular tissue, full of tight bundles of collagen

fibers all running parallel.

You can see how neat and smooth a slide sample looks under a scope, the fibers being those

white, flexible structures. They provide great resistance to tension when that tension is

exerted in one direction.

That’s why you find this tissue in your tendons, which connect muscle to bone or other

muscle, and your ligaments, which bind bones together anywhere you’ve got a joint.

But what if those collagen fibers aren’t all stacked regularly in rows?

Then it forms dense irregular tissue, whose fibers are thicker and arranged erratically

-- it’s found wherever tension might be exerted in lots of different directions, like

the leathery dermis underlying your skin.

And finally, your body has places that require more elasticity than rigidity, like say, around

your joints. That’s where you’ll find dense elastic tissue -- for example, connecting

your vertebrae so that your spine can curve and twist.

Some of our largest artery walls are made of this stretchy elastic tissue, too, which

provides both support and flexibility.

From fat to tendons, connective tissue proper is the most diverse group in this tissue family.

But for the last few minutes you’ve also been watching a different type of connective

tissue bob up and down as I talk -- cartilage

Cartilage doesn’t have any blood or nerves, and it stands up against both tension and

compression pretty well -- it’s that whitish gristle you see at the end of pork ribs or

chicken wings in your grocer’s freezer -- and it’s another thing that you’re not going

to have much luck chewing.

Hyaline cartilage is your most common type -- it’s kind of glassy looking and provides

pliable support. It connects your ribs to your sternum and keeps the tip of your nose all perky.

Its ground substance is rich with those sticky, starchy proteoglycans, and although it has

collagen fibers, when you look at it under a scope, you can’t really see them -- instead

the tissue looks glassy, hence the name “hyal” meaning glassy, or transparent.

Elastic cartilage is very similar to hyaline, but with more elastic fibers that are easier

to see, and it’s found in places where strength and stretchability are needed. Like, it’s

why I can pull on my ear without it ripping off.

And just as your body needs firm parts and stretchy parts, it also needs shock absorbers.

That’s where your fibrocartilage comes in. It’s dominated by thick fibers of collagen

and is good at withstanding lots of pressure, so it makes up the discs between your vertebrae,

and your knee joints where it keeps your bones from grinding together.

And speaking of bones!

Although you might not think of something so hard and durable as living tissue, bones

definitely are.

The word “bone” can refer to an entire organ -- like your femur or scapula -- or

just bone tissue. And that bone, or osseous tissue, is just calcified connective tissue,

perfect for supporting and protecting your body’s various structures.

Spongy bone tissue is typically found in the heads of long bones and in the inner layer

of flat bones like the sternum. This spongy tissue is strong, but porous, even to the

naked eye, and it uses this extra room to make and store bone marrow.

Compact bone tissue on the other hand is quite dense, with no visible spaces. It forms the

external layer of your bones and stores calcium for bone cells to use to make more tissue.

Now, if bone doesn’t conjure up your traditional image of a tissue, blood probably doesn’t

either -- I mean, it doesn’t seem to connect things, or lend support, and yet, blood is

our fourth type of connective tissue.

And when you think about it, it clearly does connect distant parts of your body and provides

some rigidity to other parts.

Just like other connective tissues, blood develops from mesenchyme and is made up of

cells surrounded by an extracellular nonliving matrix: In this case, the ground substance

is your blood plasma, which has protein fibers floating around in it.

Your blood’s main job, of course, is delivering goods -- it transports cells, and nutrients,

and hormones, and wastes, and all kinds of other stuff, keeping all the parts of your

body connected in the process.

Most of your blood cells are erythrocytes, or your famous red blood cells that zoom around,

carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide through your body. You’ve also got larger, infection-fighting

white blood cells, or leukocytes in the mix, and your platelets, the small cell fragments

needed for blood clotting so that a paper cut doesn’t bleed you dry.

Unlike other connective tissues, it doesn’t really have what you would call fibers, but

instead has a bunch of protein dissolved in the plasma, and those protein molecules will

form fiber-like structures when your blood needs to clot.

So. You take your four primary types of tissues, and all of the subtypes of each that’s taken

us weeks to explore, and you can probably see how they can come together in many, many

combinations to form all of your body’s organs.

And just like that chaotic cafeteria packed with middle-schoolers -- we’d be hopeless

messes without our hierarchy of organization, our inner and outer boundaries, and the ability

of our systems to communicate with each other.

THAT is what our tissues do for us, and we wouldn’t exist without them.

Today we wrapped up our four-episode series on tissues, with a survey of the sub-groups

of loose and dense connective tissue, including areolar, adipose, reticular, tendons, ligaments,

dense irregular, and dense elastic tissue. We also talked about the three cartilage types,

spongy and compact bone connective tissue, and how and why our blood is also a connective tissue type.

Thanks to all of you for watching, especially to our Subbable subscribers, who make Crash Course

possible to themselves and also to the rest of the world. To find out how you can become a supporter, you

can go to Subbable.com. And don’t forget to go to Youtube.com/CrashCourse and subscribe.

This episode was written by Kathleen Yale, the script was edited by Blake de Pastino,

and our consultant is Dr. Brandon Jackson. It was directed by Nicholas Jenkins & Michael

Aranda and our graphics team is Thought Cafe.