Dense Connective Tissue

Regular vs Irregular

Dense Irregular CT = dermis

Fibroblasts with

collagen fibers (red) in different

planes

Dense Irregular CT = dermis

Dense Regular CT = tendon

Parallel bundles of collagen (pink) with aligned fibroblasts

Dense Regular CT = ligament

Parallel bundles of collagen (pink) with elastin fibers (ribbon candy) and non-aligned fibroblasts

Dense Connective Tissue

Cartilage

Low mag of hyaline cartilage

High mag of hyaline cartilage – cells in lacunae in amorphous matrix

TEM of chondrocyte

Elastic cartilage – dark purple fibers in matrix

High mag of elastic cartilage

Low mag of fibrocartilage between two pieces of bone

High mag of fibrocartilage – aligned cells with bundles of collagen

Dense Connective Tissue

Joints

Diagram of intervertebral joints

Intervertebral joint – NP = nucleus pulposa; AF = annulus fibrosa; A =articular cartilage

Diagram of a synovial joint

Synovial joint – C = articular cartilage; Cp = joint capsule; S = synovial membrane; E = ligament

Synovial joint – articular

cartilage (AC)

AC