Connective tissue membranes

Examples of Connective tissue membranes in the following topics:

• Basement Membranes and Diseases

  • The basement membrane anchors epithelium to the connective tissue beneath it.
  • The primary function of the basement membrane is to anchor down the epithelium to its loose connective tissue underneath.
  • This is an inherited connective tissue disease causing blisters in the skin and mucosal membranes, with an incidence of 1/50,000.
  • Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of vertebrates.
  • It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals.

• Serosa

  • Serosa consists of a secretory epithelial layer and a thin connective tissue layer that reduce the friction from muscle movement.
  • In anatomy, serous membrane (or serosa) is a smooth membrane consisting of a thin layer of cells, which secrete serous fluid, and a thin connective tissue layer .
  • Each serous membrane is composed of a secretory epithelial layer and a connective tissue layer underneath.
  • These cells are bound tightly to the underlying connective tissue.
  • The connective tissue layer provides the blood vessels and nerves for the overlying secretory cells, and also serves as the binding layer which allows the whole serous membrane to adhere to organs and other structures.

• Epithelial Membranes

  • It consists of an epithelium layer and an underlying lamina propria of loose connective tissue.
  • The term "mucous membrane" refers to where they are found in the body; not every mucous membrane secretes mucus.
  • Most mucous membranes contain stratified squamous or simple columnar epithelial tissue.
  • The epithelial tissue sheet lies directly over the layer of loose connective tissue called lamina propria.
  • The submucosa is the tissue that connects the mucosa to the muscle outside the tube.

• Synovial Membranes

  • A synovial membrane is the soft tissue found between the articular capsule (joint capsule) and the joint cavity of synovial joints.
  • Membranes are thin sheets of tissue found within the body which can line cover tissues or line cavities.
  • Connective tissue membranes do not contain an epithelial cell layer and there are two forms found in the body; synovial and meninges membranes.
  • The synovial membrane (or synovium) is the connective tissue which lines the inner surface of the capsule of a synovial joint and secretes synovial fluid which serves a lubricating function, allowing joint surfaces to smoothly move across each other.
  • It is the lack of epithelial cells within the initma which defines the synovial membrane as connective rather than epithelial.

• Serous Membranes

  • In anatomy, a serous membrane (or serosa) is a smooth membrane consisting of a thin layer of cells, which secrete serous fluid, and a thin connective tissue layer.
  • Serosa is not to be confused with adventitia, a connective tissue layer which binds together structures rather than reducing friction between them.
  • Each serous membrane is composed of a secretory epithelial layer and a connective tissue layer underneath.
  • These cells are bound tightly to the underlying connective tissue.
  • This connective tissue layer provides the blood vessels and nerves for the overlying secretory cells, and also serves as the binding layer which allows the whole serous membrane to adhere to organs and other structures.

• Interosseous Membranes

  • An interosseous membrane is a broad and thin plane of fibrous tissue that separates many of the bones of the body.
  • The interosseous membrane is a type of connective tissue found between certain bones in the body.
  • This type of tissue can be seen in many other living organisms.
  • This tissue is highly fibrous in nature.
  • This image shows the interosseous membrane connecting the radius and the ulna.

• Connective Tissues: Loose, Fibrous, and Cartilage

  • The principal cell of connective tissues is the fibroblast, an immature connective tissue cell that has not yet differentiated.
  • The matrix in connective tissues gives the tissue its density.
  • Loose connective tissue, also called areolar connective tissue, has a sampling of all of the components of a connective tissue.
  • In summary, areolar tissue is tough, yet flexible, and comprises membranes.
  • Cartilage is a connective tissue.

• Types of Connective Tissue

  • Connective tissue proper has two subclasses: loose and dense.
  • This is loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes.
  • This tissue forms the fascia, which is a fibrous membrane that wraps around the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves.
  • This is considered a specialized form of connective tissue.
  • It is an atypical connective tissue since it does not bind, connect, or network with any body cells.

• Characteristics of Epithelial Tissue

  • The human body consists of four types of tissue: epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous.
  • Epithelial tissue covers the body, lines all cavities, and composes the glands.
  • These protein connections hold the cells together to form a tightly connected layer that is avascular but innervated in nature.
  • The epithelial cells are nourished by substances diffusing from blood vessels in the underlying connective tissue.
  • One side of the epithelial cell is oriented towards the surface of the tissue, body cavity, or external environment and the other surface is joined to a basement membrane.

• Selective Permeability

  • Plasma membranes are asymmetric: the interior of the membrane is not identical to the exterior of the membrane.
  • On the interior of the membrane, some proteins serve to anchor the membrane to fibers of the cytoskeleton.
  • Substances such as the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K readily pass through the plasma membranes in the digestive tract and other tissues.
  • Fat-soluble drugs and hormones also gain easy entry into cells and are readily transported into the body's tissues and organs.
  • While some polar molecules connect easily with the outside of a cell, they cannot readily pass through the lipid core of the plasma membrane.