Question

Write a note on connective tissue and its functions.

Answer 1

The cells of connective tissue are loosely spaced and embedded in an intercellular matrix (Fig. 6.10). The matrix may be jelly like, fluid, dense or rigid. The nature of matrix differs in concordance with the function of the particular connective tissue. There are different types of connective tissue:

1) Cartilage:-

• It is a supporting connective tissue.
• It is a dense connective tissue, which consists of the chondrocyte cells.
• This connective tissue has limited ground substance and can range from semisolid to a flexible matrix.

2) Bone:-

It is a supporting connective tissue.

• It is also called osseous tissue.
• It can be compact (dense) or spongy.
• It contains the osteoblasts or osteocytes cells.
• This connective tissue is made up of collagen fibers and has rigid, calcified ground substance.

3) Adipose:-

• It provides cushions and stores excess energy and fat.
• The extracellular substance of adipose connective tissue is made up of a tight pack of cells with a small amount of gelatinous ground substance.

4) Blood:-

• It is also called vascular tissue,.
  
• It is a type of fluid connective tissue.
  
• The extracellular substance of the blood connective tissue is the liquid blood plasma.
  

5) Hemapoetic or lymphatic:-

It is also a type of fluid connective tissue.

• It is responsible for the manufacture of all the blood cells and immunological functions.
  
• The extracellular substance of hemapoetic tissue is blood plasma.