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Definition

noun, plural: connective tissues

The animal tissue that chiefly originates from the embryonic mesoderm, and characterized by the abundance of extracellular components (such as fibers and intercellular substances). It connects, supports, or surrounds other tissues and organs.

Supplement

Connective tissues are one of the four major types of animal tissues, the others being epithelial tissues, muscular tissues, and nervous tissues.

Connective tissues are further classified into:

• Loose connective tissue – which includes the areolar, adipose, and reticular tissues
• Dense connective tissue – which includes the regular, irregular, and elastic tissues
• Cartilage tissues – which includes the hyaline, fibrocartilage and elastic tissues
• Other connective tissues – such as bone, blood, and lymphatics

Related terms:

• Connective tissue cell
• Connective tissue group
• Granule cell of connective tissue
• Skin and connective tissue diseases
• Connective tissue activating peptide iii
• Connective tissue disease