Question

Activity 2 Handout: Case Study on Connective Tissues The Football Game

Andre Billings, a 24-year-oldmale, presents in the emergency room with complaints of severe left knee pain and knee instability. The patient describes a violent “hit” during a football game that caused his left knee to buckle. The patient describes having heard a “pop” as he fell to the playing field.

An initial examination of the knee reveals inflammation and a reduced range of motion. Flexion (bending) is reduced to 64°, and extension (straightening) is incomplete. An examination of the joint indicates a major instability. The physician orders an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and schedules exploratory arthroscopic knee surgery for the following week. The results of the tests show that Andre has torn his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. In addition, there is a tear in theme dial meniscus (knee cartilage).

1.    Which types of human tissues are represented by the injuries suffered by this patient?

2.    Describe the structure of the two types of tissues that have suffered damage.

Answer 1

1. The tissues that suffered by the injuries are Connective tissues.

2. Ligament is the connective tissue, which has little matrix in it. It has high elasticity and only considerable strength. Like any other connective tissue, it also has got cells and fibres suspended in its little matrix. The fibres are collagenous fibres and the cells are fibrocytes, which are spindle shaped.

Cartilage: its matrix is made up of sugar and proteins. The cells are known as chondrocytes, which are loosely spaced. The fibres are proteoglycan and elastin fibres.