Connective Tissue – Definition, Types, and Functions

As the name suggest connective tissue is a tissue that connects the different cell and structure of the body. Also, these tissues perform other function that helps in the various mechanism of the body.

Connective Tissue

It is among one of the four basic cells of the animal body. In addition, it has a mesodermal origin that consists of various cells and interlacing protein fibers that are embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance.

In simple words, the connective tissue is a group of various cell that interlaced together and connect the various cell and structure of the body.

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Connective Tissue Definition

Connective tissue is one of the basic animal tissue. In addition, they perform the work of connecting the body tissue, cell, and organs.

Types of Connective Tissues

There are seven types of connective tissues found in the body of people. These are:

• Areolar Connective Tissue
• Adipose Tissue
• Dense Irregular Tissue
• Dense Regular Tissue
• Cartilages
• Bones
• Blood

1. Areolar (loose) Connective Tissue

They are a loose array of random fibers that has a wide variety of cell type. In addition, they nourish and pillows epithelia. Furthermore, it provides protection against infection, gives passage to nerve and blood vessels through other tissues and fixes organs together.

Most noteworthy, they are located in the outer covering of the blood vessels, esophagus, nerves, and other organs.

2. Adipose Tissue

They are fat-filled tissues that have adipocytes and revealing the extracellular environment. Furthermore, they store energy, conserve body heat, fills space in the body pads and guards many organs, and shape up the body.

Besides, we can found them around kidneys, eyes, heart, beneath the skin, and in the abdominal membrane of the breast.

3. Dense Irregular Tissue

These tissues are densely spaced and the arrangement of fibers and fibroblast is random in them. Also, they are pretty strong and provides protection to organs from injury. In addition, it provides a protective capsule around many organs.

Most noteworthy, we can find them in the dermis of the skin, capsules around spleen and liver, the fibrous sheath around bones, and other organs.

4. Dense Regular Tissue

They are parallel collagen fibers and fibroblast cells that are also densely spaced. Besides, they bind the bones together and attaches the muscle to the bone. Furthermore, they transfer force from the muscle to the bone.

Moreover, we can find these connective tissues in the tendons and ligaments.

5. Cartilages

They are also called gristle. Besides, they are the wide-spaced cell in the small cavities and they have a rubbery matrix. In addition, it facilities joints movements, grips airway open, resists compression at joints. Also, it shapes the outer ear, facilitates the movement of vocal cords, an indication of a fetal skeleton, and growth zone of children’s bones.

Most noteworthy, we can locate them in the external ear, larynx, joint surfaces and growth zone of bones, rings around the trachea, between ribs and sternum, intervertebral discs, etc.

6. Bones

Bones are also a form of connective tissue that forms the structure of the body. Also, they are widely spaced cells and their matrix is concentric in onion-like layers. Moreover, they provide physical support and structure to the body.

Furthermore, they provide movement, protects and encloses soft organs, and release and store calcium. Most noteworthy, the bones together form the skeleton of the body.

7. Blood

It is also a connective tissue that carries erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets, and energy and oxygen in the body. Furthermore, they perform the function of transportation of minerals, nutrients, gases, hormones, and wastes in the body.

Moreover, it flows into the cardiovascular system of the body.

Solved Question for You

Question – Which among the following is not a connective tissue?

A. Fibroblasts
B. Postganglionic fibers
C. Collagen fibers
D. Elastic fibers

Answer. The correct answer is option B because it is a brain fiber. Besides, all the others are connective tissue fiber.