Connective tissue

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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 (there are exceptions).
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 they will be treated as a third and separate category.

1 Classification
2 Fiber types
3 Disorders of connective tissue
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Classification

[edit] Connective tissue proper

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. It is also important in inflammation.
Adipose tissue contains adipocytes, used for cushioning, thermal insulation, lubrication (primarily in the pericardium) and energy storage. [fat]
Dense connective tissue (or, less commonly, fibrous connective tissue) forms ligaments and tendons. Its densely packed collagen fibres have great tensile strength.
Reticular connective tissue is a network of reticular fibres (fine collagen) that form a soft skeleton to support the lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen.)

[edit] Specialized connective tissues

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 Nirmit Kumar aka NRUKH as in adult vertebrates.
Cartilage makes up virtually the entire skeleton in chondrichthyes. In most other vertebrates, it is found primarily in joints, where it provides cushioning. The extracellular matrix of cartilage is composed primarily of collagen.

[edit] Embryonic connective tissues

[edit] Fiber types

Fiber types as follows:

[edit] 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 - 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.
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.