TYPES OF THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE
The connective tissue performs a large variety of functions in the body. There are several types and subtypes of connective tissue, all having the same basic characteristics: cells of mesenchymal origin surrounded by an extracellular matrix of complex composition and/or organization that is characteristic of each type and subtype.
Types of connective tissue
1- Connective tissue proper
This is the most common type of connective tissue, distributed in diverse places of the entire body.
The connective tissue proper and its subtypes will be shown starting on the next page.
2- Specialized connective tissues
This group includes various subtypes characterized by the special composition of their extracellular matrix:
Mucous tissue – in the umbilical cord.
Elastic connective tissue – represented by elastic fbers present in large amounts in the wall of the aorta, penile ligament, and nuchal ligament of cattle.
Reticular tissue composed of reticular fibers specialized in supporting free cells of hematopoietic and limphoid organs as well fixed cells in several other organs such as the liver, kidney and glands.
3- Adipose tissue – formed by adipocytes – will be studied in Chapter 5.
4- Supporting connective tissues
Cartilage – will be studied in Chapter 6.
5- Bone – will be studied in Chapter 7.
6- Blood and hematopoietic tissue. The blood is considered by many authors to be a type of connective tissue whose extracellular matrix is liquid. Both types will be studied on Chapter 10.
7- Lymphoid tissue – will be studied in Chapter 12.