My Dictionary #2

In class this past week, I mainly learned about connective tissue--its functions, types, components--which brought about lot of new words and terms to study. In this post, you will learn about three different words that are found within, function in, or relate to connective tissues. These are three that were one I didn't know the definition of before, yet were the most interesting.

1. Hematopoietic:

Hematopoietic stem cell (1)

Hematopoiesis is the production of all types of blood cells including formation, development, and differentiation of blood cells. Therefore, the word "hematopoetic" means a blood cell that functions as such. These are a type of connective tissue that comprises of red and white blood cells. Located in the red bone marrow, hematopoietic cells are the blood cells that give rise to all the other blood cells and are derived from mesoderm; which means, it is also a stem cell.

Fibroblasts (2)

2. Fibroblast:
Part of the connective tissue resident population, fibroblasts make up the connective tissue fibers and carbohydrates in the ground substance, which is found in the extracellular matrix. It is in the shape of an elongated nucleus, synthesizing the extracellular matrix and collagen, and also playing a crucial role in healing wounds.





3. Laminin:

Laminin under a microscope (3)

A multiadhesive glycoprotein, laminin can be found in the ground substance of the extracellular matrix in connective tissue. The extracellular matrix is one of two things that make up connective tissue, the other being the cell. I've used laminin many times when I have been asked to take devotions or nature talks simply because God has so fearfully and wonderfully made all of us, and what better for Him to show us this through this protein in the shape of a cross. It shows us that through this protein that functions to connect organs (multiadhesive glycoprotein), He holds us together.

Picture references:
(1) http://microbiologyspring2011.wikispaces.com/file/view/StemCell-Under-Microscope.jpg/228614600/423x317/StemCell-Under-Microscope.jpg
(2) http://www.sciencellonline.com/OLDSITE/site/productimages/Cells/Human/6320_3.jpg
(3) http://www.melvinneo.com/wp-content/uploads/laminin-2-300x220.png