Connective Tissue Collection (#9)

Elastic cartilage, SEM
Elastic cartilage. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through elastic cartilage (central horizontal strip) from a pinna (external ear)

Skeletal muscle, SEM
Skeletal muscle. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a transverse section through skeletal muscle. The many muscle fibres (red) are seen, along with the elastic sheath (epimysium)

Skeletal muscle

Bone growth, light micrograph
Bone growth. Light micrograph of actively growing cells in the epiphyseal plate (growth plate) between the diaphysis (shaft) and epiphysis (rounded end) of a long bone

Foot nerves. Historical anatomical artwork of the nerves (white) of the sole of a human foot. Also shown are muscles (red), and ligaments, tendons and other connective tissues (grey)

Leg nerves. Historical anatomical artwork of the nerves (white) of the rear of a human lower leg. At left, the superficial (surface) nerves are seen and at right the deep nerves and muscles (red)

Pelvic spinal nerves. Historical anatomical artwork of the spinal nerves (white) in the human pelvic region. This side view (front of the body at right)

Abdominal spinal nerves. Historical anatomical artwork of the spinal nerves (white) in a human abdomen. This view, from the front

Torso nerves. Historical anatomical artwork of the nerves (white) of parts of a human torso. At lower frame, a side view of the abdomen (front of body at left) shows muscles (red)

Arm nerves. Historical anatomical artwork of the nerves (white) of the front (palm side) of a human forearm. At left, the superficial (surface) nerves are shown

Knee bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of knee bones (yellow) and ligaments (pale blue). Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at joints

Hand bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of the bones (yellow) & ligaments (white) of the hand. Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at their joints

Lower arm bones and ligaments
Lower arm bones & ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of lower arm bones (yellow) and ligaments (pale blue). Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at joints

Ankle bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of ankle bones (yellow) and ligaments (pale blue). Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at their joints

Foot bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of foot bones (yellow) and ligaments (pale blue). Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at their joints

Lower leg bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of lower leg bones (yellow) and ligaments (pale blue). Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at their joints

Pelvis bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of pelvis bones (yellow) and ligaments (white). Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at their joints

Shoulder bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of shoulder bones (yellow) and ligaments (white). Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together at their joints

Spinal bones and ligaments. Historical anatomical artwork of thoracic (upper) spinal bones (yellow, vertebrae) and ligaments (white)

Abdominal organs and nerves, historical anatomical artwork. This ventral (front) view shows an abdomen dissected to reveal some of the abdominal organs and associated nerves

Coloured SEM of liver tissue with fibrosis
Fibrosis. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of human liver tissue (red-brown) affected by fibrosis. This is a condition characterised by an overgrowth of connective tissue (pale purple)

Fibroblast, SEM
Fibroblast cell, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Fibroblasts are cells that give rise to connective tissue such as collagen, the main structural protein in the body

Tendon, light micrograph
Tendon. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a tendon showing the parallel collagen fibres. Connective tissue (brown) separates the bundles

Dense connective tissue, SEM
Dense connective tissue, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The main component of this tissue is collagen. Magnification: x1500 when printed at 10 centimetres wide

Cardiac muscle, SEM
Cardiac muscle. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a bundle of cardiac muscle fibrils (green) from a healthy heart. Mitochondria (round, orange) supply the muscle cells with energy

Hyaline cartilage, SEM
Hyaline cartilage. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a freeze-fractured section through hyaline cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue

Trachea mucous membrane, SEM
Trachea mucous membrane. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fractured mucous membrane of the trachea (wind pipe), showing the epithelium and underlying connective tissue

Mast cell, TEM
Mast cell, coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM). Mast cells are a type of white blood cell found in connective tissue

Skeletal muscle fibres, SEM
Skeletal muscle fibres, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Endomysial connective tissue is green. Magnification: x300 when printed at 10 centimetres wide

Nerve fibres, SEM
Myelinated nerve fibres, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The myelin sheath is grey, the axoplasm pink and the endoneurium (connective tissue) yellow

Blood vessel structure, artwork
Blood vessel structure. Artwork showing the layers of tissue in the walls of a vein. In the lumen of the vein are valves (grey) that prevent the back flow of blood

Primate ear canal, SEM

Primate hand tendon, SEM

Optic nerve fibres, SEM
Optic nerve fibres. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of axons from the optic nerve. Connective tissue fibres (thread-like) are also visible

Fat tissue, SEM
Fat tissue. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of fat cells (adipocytes, round) surrounded by fine strands of supportive connective tissue

Intestine wall, artwork
Intestine wall. Computer artwork of a section through the wall of a human intestine, showing its structure. For the labelled diagram see image: C009/1711

Human tooth anatomy, diagram
Human tooth anatomy. Diagram of a cross-section through a human tooth to show its anatomical structure. The two main areas are the crown (above the gum-line) and the root (embedded in the gum)

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Connective tissue is a remarkable network that holds our bodies together, providing support and structure to various organs and systems. In the anatomy of the human knee joint, connective tissue plays a crucial role in maintaining stability and allowing smooth movement. Lactating breast tissue, as seen under a light microscope, showcases the intricate arrangement of connective fibers that aid in milk production. Examining tendons through scanning electron microscopy reveals their strong composition primarily made up of collagen fibers. These tough yet flexible strands provide resilience and enable efficient transmission of forces between muscles and bones. Artwork depicting outer ankle ligaments (C013 / 4452) illustrates how connective tissue safeguards joints from excessive movements while ensuring proper alignment during physical activities. Similarly, inner ankle ligaments (C013 / 4451) contribute to joint stability by connecting bones within the ankle region. Even on a microscopic level, connective tissue continues to amaze us. Computer artwork showcasing red blood cells highlights their vital role in transporting oxygen throughout our body via an intricate network of capillaries embedded within this specialized type of connective tissue. Delving into human tooth anatomy through artwork unveils another aspect where they are present – supporting structures like periodontal ligament that anchor teeth firmly within the jawbone. Fibroblast cells depicted in artwork demonstrate their pivotal function in synthesizing extracellular matrix components such as collagen and elastin – essential for wound healing and maintaining overall tissue integrity. Mesenchymal stem cells captured using scanning electron microscopy exhibit immense potential for regenerative medicine due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types found within different types of connective tissues. The optic nerve fibers imaged under SEM highlight how delicate yet resilient these structures are, responsible for transmitting visual information from our eyes to the brain with utmost precision thanks to surrounding supportive connective tissues. Lastly, examining fat tissue at high magnification reveals its unique structure composed mainly of adipocytes, which store energy and provide insulation.