Definition: Connective tissue is a type of tissue made up of fibers forming a framework and support structure for body tissues and organs.
Many rheumatic related conditions are also connective tissue disorders including:
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)
Sjogren's Syndrome
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)
Dermatomyositis
Polymyositis
Vasculitis
Giant Cell Arteritis
Wegner's Granulomatosis
Polyarteritis Nodosa
Behcet’s Disease
Takayasu Arteritis
Kawasaki Disease
collagens (a fibrous protein building block)
proteoglycans (a group of proteins that maintain tissue stiffness)
glycoproteins (composed of a protein and a sugar)
collagenous fibers
elastic fibers
reticular fibers
Connective tissue is the material between the cells of the body that gives tissues form and strength. This "cellular glue" is also involved in delivering nutrients to the tissue, and in the special functioning of certain tissues. Connective tissue surrounds many organs. Cartilage, blood and bone are specialized forms of connective tissue.
Connective tissue is made up of dozens of proteins, including:
The combination of these proteins can vary between tissues.
The most common form of connective tissue is loose connective tissue. There are three main types:
Another form of connective tissue is fibrous connective tissue which is found in tendons and ligaments.
For An In-Depth Explanation of Connective Tissue:
Please See: Connective Tissue (from your About guide to biology)
Pronunciation: con-neck-tiv tis-shoe
Common Misspellings: conective tissue
Examples:
Connective tissue supports and connects structures of the body.
