Question

1.- The micrographs of areolar and adipose tissue both show cells (fibroblasts and adipocytes), but the density of cells in the two tissues is very different. What do you think causes this difference?

2.- How does the arrangement of fibers differ in the two types of dense connective tissue?

3.- Dense regular connective tissue forms tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses, and fascia. Dense irregular connective tissue forms the reticular dermis, digestive tract submucosa, and organ and joint capsules. How does the arrangement of fibers in dense regular and dense irregular connective tissue determine the capacity for each tissue to withstand tension?

I need help with these e questions please

Answer 1

1) Both areolar tissue and adipose tissue have got same type of cells but density is different because they have to perform different kinds of functions.

Areolar tissue: It is the most widely distributed connective tissue in the body. It consists of loosely woven network of all three types of fibres (collagen, elastic and reticular) and contain almost all kinds of connective tissue cells predominantly fibroblasts. The fibres and cells are dispersed in semi-fluid ground substance. Much of the body fluid is found within areolar connective tissue. It is a packing and binding tissue that surrounds muscles, nerves and vessels, and binds skin to the underlying is deep fascia. It permits skin to move when a part of a body is rubbed.

Adipose tissue: it consists of large aggregations of adipocytes. Adipocytes store droplets of fat within their cytoplasm, causing them to swell, thus forcing their nuclei to one side and the cytoplasm is a present as a thin rim around it. The fat functions not only as a food reserve but protects and supports various organs. The adipose tissue is present in abundance in superficial fascia deep to the skin, around kidneys, blood vessels around heart, in breast in sexually mature females, etc.

2) & 3)

Dense regular Connective tissue	Dense Irregular Connective tissue
Densely packed bundles of collagen fibres lying parallel to the direction of force placed on the tissue.	Densely packed bundles of collagen fibres that are interwoven to provide tensile strength in any direction.
Less ground substance	Less ground substance.
Fibroblasts arranged in orderly fashion.	Fibroblasts arranged haphazardly.
Provide tensile strength in one direction because of arrangement of collagen fibres.	Provide tensile strength in any direction because of haphazard arrangement of collagen fibres.