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Connective tissue is located connecting different types of tissue and organs. It is made up of a lot of fluids, several kinds of cells, and a fibrous extracellular matrix. The stroma is the name given to an organ’s connective tissue. Depending on the quantities of its components, this tissue type can have a wide range of shapes. Bone, cartilage, fat, and even blood are examples of specialised forms.
Connective tissue is a structure of cells, aqueous ground substance, and fibres that connects them. The proportions of its essential constituents can have an impact on function, type, and location. Although no studies have validated these findings, research from the Asian Center for Reference Man Studies in Tokyo, Japan, suggests that the average person has between 3300 and 4300 grammes of this tissue type.
Connective tissues uses
Connective tissue links, supports, binds, and separates tissues and organs, forming a framework for structural and metabolic support of human tissues and organs. Cells in connective tissue are few and dispersed, as opposed to epithelial tissue, where they are in close contact. The majority of connective tissues are vascularized (except cartilage). The extracellular matrix refers to the extracellular spaces (space outside of cells) in connective tissue.
As a result, connective tissue is made up of cells and extracellular matrix. Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans make up the extracellular matrix. The qualities of connective tissue are determined by differences in the composition of the extracellular matrix.
Types of connective tissues
There are three kinds of connective tissue: loose, dense and specialised. The structural arrangement of their extracellular matrix differs.
Loose connective tissue
Areolar connective tissue is an alias name for loose connective tissue. It almost contains the same amount of cells, fibres, and ground substance. The fibroblasts are the primary cells. Immune system cells, on the other hand, are present. The ECM’s main fibres are collagen fibres. Because they are sparsely scattered inside the ECM, this tissue type is referred to as ‘loose.’ Aside from collagen fibres, there are moderate amounts of reticular and elastic fibres.
The most common type of connective tissue is loose connective tissue, which is located in the lining of the body’s interior surfaces.
Dense connective tissue
Collagen fibres are more abundant in dense connective tissue than in loose connective tissue. As a consequence, it has risen resistance to stretching. Dense connective tissue is further categorised into three types: regular, irregular, and elastic. Dense regular connective tissue fibres run parallel to one another, increasing tensile strength and resistance to straining in the direction of the fibre orientations. Ligaments and tendons are formed of regular connective tissue that is thick.
The direction of fibres in dense irregular connective tissue is unpredictable. This arrangement gives the tissue more strength in both dimensions while decreasing strength in one direction. Fibers crisscross each other and create a mesh in some tissues.
Specialized connective tissue
Surprisingly, specialised connective tissue appears in a variety of shapes and sizes. This category comprises the tissues that make up our tendons, body fat, bones, and cartilage.
Because of the high fraction of fibres that run parallel to each other, thick connective tissue is dense. Tendons, ligaments, and muscle fascia are examples of dense regular tissue. This type is categorised as connective tissue proper in many publications; nonetheless, it is located in specific areas and can fit into either group.
Bone is a form of specialised connective tissue. The ground substance is mineralized and hard, rather than a watery extracellular matrix. By absorbing energy, high quantities of collagen fibres make our bones shock-resistant. Furthermore, the periosteum is a connective tissue membrane that covers the bones.
Conclusion
Connective tissue is the tissue that joins or divides all other types of tissues in the body and provides support for them. It, like all tissue types, is made up of cells surrounded by a fluid compartment known as the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, connective tissue varies from other types in that its cells are loosely packed inside the ECM rather than firmly packed.
We distinguish two types of connective tissue based on the cells present and the ECM structure:
- Connective tissue is further classified as loose and thick connective tissues.
- Reticular, blood, bone, cartilage, and adipose tissues are all types of connective tissue.
We all know that there are far more interesting histology topics than connective tissue, such as muscle tissue or brain tissue. However, because connective tissue is the glue that ties all other tissues together, it serves a crucial job in ensuring that our body systems function properly.
