Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Cells > Connective Tissue Cells Terms and Definitions

Connective Tissue Cells

Medical Definition:	A group of cells that includes FIBROBLASTS, cartilage cells, ADIPOCYTES, smooth muscle cells, and bone cells.
Previously Indexed:	Connective Tissue Cells (1966-1977),Connective Tissue/cytology (1978-1997)

Connective Tissue Cells Categories.

	Adipocytes - Fat-storing cells found mostly in the abdominal cavity and subcutaneous tissue. Fat is usually stored in the form of TRYGLYCERIDES.
	Chondrocytes - Polymorphic cells that form cartilage.
	Fibroblasts - Connective tissue cells which secrete an extracellular matrix rich in collagen and other macromolecules.
	Macrophages - The relatively long-lived phagocytic cell of mammalian tissues that are derived from blood MONOCYTES. Macrophages from different sites have distinctly different properties. Main types are PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES; ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES; HISTIOCYTES; KUPPFER CELLS of the liver; and OSTEOCLASTS. They may further differentiate within chronic inflammatory lesions to EPITHELIOID CELLS or may fuse to form FOREIGN BODY GIANT CELLS or LANGHANS GIANT CELLS. (from The Dictionary of Cell Biology, Lackie and Dow, 3rd ed.)
	Mast Cells - Granulated cells that are found in almost all tissues, most abundantly in the skin and the gastrointestinal tract. Like the BASOPHILS, mast cells contain large amounts of HISTAMINE and HEPARIN. Unlike basophils, mast cells normally remain in the tissues and do not circulate in the blood. Mast cells, derived from the bone marrow stem cells, are regulated by the STEM CELL FACTOR.
	Odontoblasts
	Osteoblasts - Bone-forming cells which secrete an EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX. HYDROXYAPATITE crystals are then deposited into the matrix to form bone.
	Stromal Cells - Connective tissue cells of an organ found in the loose connective tissue. These are most often associated with the uterine mucosa and the ovary as well as the hematopoietic system and elsewhere.

Connective Tissue Cells Medical Definitions and Terms

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