Connective tissues

By: Tom Anthony A. Tonguia, RMT

Connective tissues

 Are the most widespread and abundant type of tissue in the human body
 Primarily to support, anchor and connect various parts of the body.
 It has 3 basic elements:
 Cells
 Fibers
 Intercellular substance.
 Derived from the embryonic connective tissue or mesenchyme.
Different types of connective tissues

1. Connective tissue proper- very large and diverse group of tissues that
encompasses all organs and body cavities connecting one part with another
and , equally important, separating one group of cells from another
1. Loose connective tissue- very common and generally supports epithelial tissue that
is also called Areolar tissue.
2. Dense connective tissue- these tissues are adapted to offer stress resistance and
protection. Has two types, dense regular and dense irregular.
2. Embryonic Connective tissue
1. Mucoid or Mucous connective tissue- has abundant ground substance maing it
jellylie with sparse collagen fibers and scattered fibroblasts
2. Mesenchyme- sparse, with few collagen fibers and undifferentiated mesenchymal
cells.
Different types of connective tissues
3. Specialized Connective tissue
 Reticular connective tissue- made up of delicate network of reticular fibers
composed mainly of type III collagen with attached specialized fibroblasts called
Reticular cells
 Adipose Tissue- serves as storage depots for neutral fats and as key regulators of
bodys overall energy metabolism
 Bone- the hardest connective tissue
 Blood- considered a connective tissue because it provides a transport system
 Cartilage- its extracellular matrix is composed of collagen and elastic fibers
embedded in a gelatinous ground substance