Editing Connective tissue (section)

{{Short description|Type of biological tissue in animals}}
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| Name        = Connective tissue
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| Image       = Hist.Technik (2).jpg
| Caption     = Section of [[epididymis]]. Connective tissue (blue) is seen supporting the [[epithelium]] (purple).
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'''Connective tissue''' is one of the four primary types of [[tissue (biology)#Animal tissue|animal tissue]], a group of cells that are similar in structure, along with [[epithelial tissue]], [[muscle tissue]], and [[nervous tissue]].<ref name="oregon">{{Cite web |last=Biga |first=Lindsay M. |last2=Dawson |first2=Sierra |last3=Harwell |first3=Amy |date=26 September 2019 |title=4.1 Types of Tissues |url=https://open.oregonstate.education/aandp/chapter/4-1-types-of-tissues/ |access-date=30 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref> It develops mostly from the [[mesenchyme]], derived from the [[mesoderm]], the middle [[embryo]]nic [[germ layer]].<ref name="Biga" /> Connective tissue is found in between other tissues everywhere in the body, including the [[nervous system]]. The three [[meninges]], membranes that envelop the [[brain]] and [[spinal cord]], are composed of connective tissue. Most types of connective tissue consists of three main components: [[elastic fiber|elastic]] and [[collagen fibers]], [[ground substance]], and [[cell (biology)|cells]].<ref name="Biga" /> [[Blood]] and [[lymph]] are classed as specialized fluid connective tissues that do not contain fiber.<ref name="Biga" /><ref name="libre">{{Cite web |date=21 May 2021 |title=5.3.4: Fluid Tissues |url=https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/West_Hills_College_-_Lemoore/Human_Anatomy_Laboratory_Manual_(Hartline)/05%3A_Tissues/5.03%3A_Connective_Tissues/5.3.04%3A_Fluid_Tissues |access-date=2 August 2022 |website=Biology LibreTexts |language=en}}</ref> All are immersed in the [[body water]]. The cells of connective tissue include [[fibroblast]]s, [[adipocyte]]s, [[macrophage]]s, [[mast cell]]s and [[leukocyte]]s.

The term "connective tissue" (in German, {{Lang|de|Bindegewebe}}) was introduced in 1830 by [[Johannes Peter Müller]]. The tissue was already recognized as a distinct class in the 18th century.<ref>Mathews, M. B. (1975). ''Connective Tissue, Macromolecular Structure Evolution.'' Springer-Verlag, Berlin and New York. [https://books.google.com/books?id=_xf2CAAAQBAJ link].</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Aterman |first=K. |year=1981 |title=Connective tissue: An eclectic historical review with particular reference to the liver |journal=The Histochemical Journal |volume=13 |issue=3 |pages=341–396 |doi=10.1007/BF01005055 |pmid=7019165 |s2cid=22765625}}</ref>