Connective tissue
Connective tissue is any supporting tissue in which cells are embedded in an <a href="Extra-cellular matrix">extra-cellular matrix</a> (a network of <a href="Polysaccharides">polysaccharides</a> and proteins- particularly <a href="Collagen">collagen</a>) [1]. It often lies between different tissues, connecting, supporting, binding to or separating them depending on specific location and function in a multi-cellular <a href="Organism">organism</a>.
Connective tissue can take many different structure; when calcified they become very hard like teeth or bone, then can form rope like structures with high mechanical strength forming tendons, they are also responsible for the colourless gel of the <a href="Cornea">cornea</a> in the <a href="Eye">eye</a> [2].
Connective tissue is a structure in which cells adhere, to each other and to the extra-cellular matrix. This is necessary in multi-cellular organisms to provide mechanical strength but also to allow interaction, behaviour coordination, and regulation of <a href="Gene expression">gene expression</a> [3].
Connective tissue is made up of cells surrounded by large amounts of extra-cellular matrix which is predominantly secreted by <a href="Fibroblasts">fibroblasts</a>. Connective tissue is rich in extra-cellular matrix and cells are sparsely dispersed within it. The extra-cellular matrix in these connective tissues influences survival, development, migration, rapid reproduction of cells, their shape, and function [4].
References
- ↑ Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science Taylor and Francis Group. G9.
- ↑ Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science Taylor and Francis Group. p1178
- ↑ Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science Taylor and Francis Group. p1131
- ↑ Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter (2008). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th ed. New York: Garland Science Taylor and Francis Group. p1178