Connective
Connective Tissue
Connective tissue (pronunciation: /kəˈnɛktɪv ˈtɪʃuː/) is one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue. It develops from the mesoderm.
Etymology
The term "connective tissue" has been in use since the 1830s. It is derived from the Latin conectere, which means "to bind together".
Definition
Connective tissue is a complex, structural tissue that supports, binds together, or separates different types of tissues and organs of the body. It is not one type of tissue, but a category of tissues with a wide range of functions.
Types of Connective Tissue
There are several types of connective tissue, including:
- Loose connective tissue: This is the most common type of connective tissue. It holds organs in place and attaches epithelial tissue to other underlying tissues.
- Dense connective tissue: This type of tissue is composed of large amounts of closely packed collagenous fibers. It makes up tendons, ligaments, and the white fibrous tissues that provide support and protection for the parts of the body.
- Specialized connective tissue: This includes a variety of different types of tissue, such as bone, cartilage, blood, and lymphatic tissue.
Related Terms
- Fibroblast: A type of cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, the structural framework for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing.
- Extracellular matrix: A three-dimensional network of extracellular macromolecules, such as collagen, enzymes, and glycoproteins, that provide structural and biochemical support to surrounding cells.
- Collagen: The main structural protein in the extracellular space in the various connective tissues in the body.
- Elastin: A highly elastic protein in connective tissue that allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting.
- Ground substance: An amorphous gel-like substance in the extracellular space that contains all components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) except for fibrous materials such as collagen and elastin.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Connective
- Wikipedia's article - Connective
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