Pre-Lab Activities
1. Tissues are composed of cells and a matrix (extracellular material). The matrix is
composed of fibers and ground substance (or, generally speaking, extracellular fluid,
interstitial fluid, or tissue fluid). What cells are commonly found in (fibrous) connective
tissues?
2. What are the three types of protein fibers found in (fibrous) connective tissues?
3. How is the consistency of ground substance in (fibrous) connective tissues (e.g. fluid,
gelatinous, rubbery, or stony)?
4. Identify and label cells, ground substance, and fibers in these two examples of fibrous
connective tissues (Note: You will see more types of connective tissues during the lab
containing different densities of fibers and different types of ground substance)
Areolar Connective Tissue
Dense Irregular Connective Tissue