Library · Histology
Connective tissue
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Connective tissue is one of the four basic tissue types in the body, and its name says what it does: it includes tissues that connect, support and bind other tissues and structures.
The interesting part is what it is made of. It has few cells and, above all, extracellular matrix, which is the material outside the cells. It is like a loaf of bread with few raisins: almost all of it is the dough around them. In most types, that matrix combines fibers and ground substance, which is the background filler.
It falls into two main groups. Connective tissue proper includes, for example, tendons, made mostly of very tightly packed collagen fibers, like the strands of a rope. Specialized connective tissue includes bone, whose matrix is mineralized, meaning loaded with minerals, and blood, whose matrix is liquid. Yes: blood is connective tissue too.
In brief
Connective tissue, one of the four basic tissue types, includes tissues that connect, support and bind other tissues and structures.
It is made mostly of extracellular matrix with few cells; in most types, the matrix combines fibers and ground substance.
Like a loaf of bread with few raisins: it is almost all dough.
It is divided into connective tissue proper, such as tendons, made mostly of densely packed collagen fibers, and specialized tissue, such as bone, with a mineralized matrix, or blood, with a liquid matrix.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingAnatomy, Connective Tissue, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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