Connective tissue Totally Explained

Everything about Connective Tissue totally explained

Connective tissue is one of the four types of tissue in traditional classifications (the others being epithelial, muscle, and nervous tissue). It is largely a category of exclusion rather than one with a precise definition, but all or most tissues in this category are similarly:* Involved in structure and support.

Derived from mesoderm, usually.
Characterized largely by the traits of non-living tissue.

Blood, cartilage, and bone are usually considered connective tissue, but because they differ so substantially from the other tissues in this class, the phrase "connective tissue proper" is commonly used to exclude those three. There is also variation in the classification of embryonic connective tissues; on this page that'll be treated as a third and separate category. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% of the total protein content.

Classification

The old classification system for connective tissue is proper versus specilized. There has been a new classifications system proposed, however, and it's as follows:
Loose Connective Tissue

Areolar

Adipose

Reticular Dense Connective Tissue

Regular

Irregular

Elastic Cartilage

Hyaline

Fibrocartilage

Elastic Other

Bone

Blood

Lymphatics

Connective tissue proper

Areolar (or loose) connective tissue holds organs and epithelia in place, and has a variety of proteinaceous fibres, including collagen and elastin.

Fibrous connective tissue forms ligaments and tendons. Its densely packed collagen fibers have great tensile strength.

Specialized connective tissues

Blood functions in transport. Its extracellular matrix is blood plasma, which transports dissolved nutrients, hormones, and carbon dioxide in the form of bicarbonate. The main cellular component is red blood cells.

Bone makes up virtually the entire skeleton in adult vertebrates.

Cartilage makes up virtually the entire skeleton in chondrichthyes. In most other vertebrates, it's found primarily in joints, where it provides cushioning. The extracellular matrix of cartilage is composed primarily of collagen.

Adipose tissue contains adipocytes, used for cushioning, thermal insulation, lubrication (primarily in the pericardium) and energy storage.

Reticular connective tissue is a network of reticular fibres (fine collagen, type III) that form a soft skeleton to support the lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen.)

Embryonic connective tissues

Mesenchymal connective tissue

Mucous connective tissue

Fiber types

Fiber types as follows:

collagenous fibers

elastic fibers

reticular fibers

Disorders of connective tissue

Various connective tissue conditions have been identified; these can be both inherited and environmental.

Marfan syndrome - a genetic disease causing abnormal fibrillin.

Scurvy - caused by a dietary deficiency in vitamin C, leading to abnormal collagen.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - deficient type III collagen- a genetic disease causing progressive deterioration of collagens, with different EDS types affecting different sites in the body, such as joints, heart valves, organ walls, arterial walls, etc.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome - a genetic disease related to Marfan syndrome, with an emphasis on vascular deterioration.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum - an autosomal recessive hereditary disease, caused by calcification and fragmentation of elastic fibres, affecting the skin, the eyes and the cardiovascular system.

Systemic lupus erythematosus - a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory disorder of probable autoimmune etiology, occurring predominantly in young women.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) - caused by insufficient production of good quality collagen to produce healthy, strong bones.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva - disease of the connective tissue, caused by a defective gene which turns connective tissue into bone.

Spontaneous pneumothorax - collapsed lung, believed to be related to subtle abnormalities in connective tissue.

Sarcoma - a neoplastic process originating within connective tissue.

Staining of connective tissue

For microscopic viewing, the majority of the connective tissue staining techniques color tissue fibers in contrasting shades. Collagen may be differentially stained by any of the following techniques:

Van Gieson's stain

Masson's Trichrome stain

Mallory's Aniline Blue stain

Azocarmine stain

Krajian's Aniline Blue stainFurther Information

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