Question

What are areolar and adipose tissues?

Answer 1

Areolar Tissue is a type of loose connective tissue that consists of a meshwork of collagen, elastic tissue, and reticular fibres - with many connective tissue cells in between the meshwork of fibres. The different types of cells embedded within the areolar tissue include:
1. Fibroblasts
2. Plasma Cells
3. Adipocytes
4. Mast Cells, and
5. Macrophages.

Adipose tissue or fatty tissue is also a type of connective tissue consisting mainly of fat cells (adipose cells, or adipocytes), specialized to synthesize and contain large globules of fat, within a structural network of fibres.

Differences between Areolar and Adipose tissues:

Areolar tissue:
1. Areolar tissue is mainly connective.
2. It usually fixes skin with the muscles.
3. It forms the packaging material in all organs between the muscles.
4. It has two types of fibres white and yellow.
Adipose tissue:
1. It is mainly concerned with the storage of fat.
2. The cells are spherical or oval and are packed in a matrix.
3. The matrix of the tissue consists of fibroblasts, macrophages and col­lagen fibres.
4. It is found around the kidneys, blood vessels and also heart.