Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsRole of Connective TissueStructureConnective Tissue TypesConditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Role of Connective Tissue
Structure
Connective Tissue Types
Conditions
Connective tissue connects, supports, binds, and separates organs and tissues, forming a framework to support body tissues and organs. It plays a role in immune function, transporting nutrients and wastes, storing fat, and repairing tissue damage.
Connective tissue is made from cells, fibers, and a gelatinous material called ground substance. Bone, cartilage, blood, fat, and lymphatic tissue are types of connective tissues.
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The Role of Connective Tissue
Connective tissue is found throughout the body in a range of locations including tendons, ligaments, skin, membranes, elastic tissue, and others. It helps support and protect the body’s organs and tissues. It also plays a role in a number of functions within the body, including:
Connective tissue is made up of cells and extracellular matrix. Extracellular matrix is the term used to describe the spaces outside of the cells. The extracellular matrix is composed of:
Variations in the composition of the extracellular matrix determine properties of the connective tissue.
The cells in connective tissue are few and dispersed, so they are not in close contact with each other as they are in other types of tissue. Most connective tissues—with the exception ofcartilage—are vascularized, which means they contain blood vessels.
The components of connective tissue include:
Connective tissues fall into one of two primary categories.
Connective Tissue Proper
Connective tissue proper is classified as either loose irregular connective tissue or dense irregular connective tissue.
Specialized Connective Tissue
Specialized connective tissue examples include:
If there is an imbalance, connective tissue diseases can develop. Some conditions happen because of net degradation of connective tissues, while others happen because of a net increase in synthesis.
There are more than 200 diseases and conditions that affect connective tissue.Some connective tissue diseases are consequences of infection, autoimmune diseases, injury, or genetic abnormalities. The cause of some connective tissue diseases remains unknown.
Autoimmune Conditions
An autoimmune condition is a condition that causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. Autoimmune conditions that affect connective tissue include:
Inherited Conditions
Other Connective Tissue Diseases
Connective tissue diseases may develop due to inflammation of the joints, membranes, blood vessels, or other parts of the body that contain connective tissue. Some of these conditions include:
Summary
Connective tissue is the tissue that supports the organs and tissues in your body. Connective tissue also helps with body functions such as immune processes, transport of nutrients, fat storage, and tissue repair.
Most connective tissue contains fibers, cells, and ground substance. Cartilage, adipose tissue, lymphatic tissue, blood, and bone are examples of connective tissue.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Connective tissue.Pomin VH, Mulloy B.Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2018;11(1):27. doi:10.3390/ph11010027Bancroft JD, Layton C.Connective and other mesenchymal tissues with their stains.Bancroft’s theory and practice of histological techniques. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2018:153-75.Barnes J, Yakubov DJ, Singleman C, Holtzman NG.Connective tissue.Histology Atlas: Basic Mammalian Tissue Types. CUNY Academic Works. 2019:18.Chen Z, Zhang N, Chu HY, et al.Connective tissue growth factor: From molecular understandings to drug discovery.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020;8:593269. doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.593269National Library of Medicine.Connective tissue disorders.Additional ReadingConnective Tissue.Classification of Connective Tissue. The Histology Guide. The University of Leeds.Connective Tissue Disorders. MedlinePlus.Connective Tissues: Matrix Composition and Its Relevance to Physical Therapy. Physical Therapy. Culav EM et al. March 1999.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Connective tissue.Pomin VH, Mulloy B.Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2018;11(1):27. doi:10.3390/ph11010027Bancroft JD, Layton C.Connective and other mesenchymal tissues with their stains.Bancroft’s theory and practice of histological techniques. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2018:153-75.Barnes J, Yakubov DJ, Singleman C, Holtzman NG.Connective tissue.Histology Atlas: Basic Mammalian Tissue Types. CUNY Academic Works. 2019:18.Chen Z, Zhang N, Chu HY, et al.Connective tissue growth factor: From molecular understandings to drug discovery.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020;8:593269. doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.593269National Library of Medicine.Connective tissue disorders.Additional ReadingConnective Tissue.Classification of Connective Tissue. The Histology Guide. The University of Leeds.Connective Tissue Disorders. MedlinePlus.Connective Tissues: Matrix Composition and Its Relevance to Physical Therapy. Physical Therapy. Culav EM et al. March 1999.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Connective tissue.Pomin VH, Mulloy B.Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2018;11(1):27. doi:10.3390/ph11010027Bancroft JD, Layton C.Connective and other mesenchymal tissues with their stains.Bancroft’s theory and practice of histological techniques. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2018:153-75.Barnes J, Yakubov DJ, Singleman C, Holtzman NG.Connective tissue.Histology Atlas: Basic Mammalian Tissue Types. CUNY Academic Works. 2019:18.Chen Z, Zhang N, Chu HY, et al.Connective tissue growth factor: From molecular understandings to drug discovery.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020;8:593269. doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.593269National Library of Medicine.Connective tissue disorders.
National Cancer Institute.Connective tissue.
Pomin VH, Mulloy B.Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans.Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2018;11(1):27. doi:10.3390/ph11010027
Bancroft JD, Layton C.Connective and other mesenchymal tissues with their stains.Bancroft’s theory and practice of histological techniques. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2018:153-75.
Barnes J, Yakubov DJ, Singleman C, Holtzman NG.Connective tissue.Histology Atlas: Basic Mammalian Tissue Types. CUNY Academic Works. 2019:18.
Chen Z, Zhang N, Chu HY, et al.Connective tissue growth factor: From molecular understandings to drug discovery.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020;8:593269. doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.593269
National Library of Medicine.Connective tissue disorders.
Connective Tissue.Classification of Connective Tissue. The Histology Guide. The University of Leeds.Connective Tissue Disorders. MedlinePlus.Connective Tissues: Matrix Composition and Its Relevance to Physical Therapy. Physical Therapy. Culav EM et al. March 1999.
Connective Tissue Disorders. MedlinePlus.
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