Connective Tissue

What is connective tissue?

Connective tissue is a catchall term for tissues that hold your body together and link its different parts. It’s essential to maintain the structure of your body. You have different forms of connective tissue nearly everywhere in your body.

What does connective tissue do?

Connective tissue has a few main purposes, including:

• Attaching. Connective tissues like ligaments and tendons can anchor parts in place.
• Cushioning. Cartilage in your joints helps absorb impact and keep bones from grinding together. Fatty tissue can also absorb impact and movement forces so they don’t harm more delicate structures.
• Flexing. Elastic connective tissues are stretchy or can twist and bend. That helps you move around and limits injuries from impacts or movement forces.
• Protecting. Some connective tissues carry and distribute immune cells. And bones provide armor-like physical protection to your brain and vital organs in your chest.
• Separating. The capsule layer around many of your organs provides a boundary that separates them from surrounding tissues.
• Supporting. Your bones are the framework that holds your body up.
• Supplying. Some connective tissues carry and distribute oxygen and other nutrients to various tissues.

What are the different types of connective tissue?

Connective tissue is one of four types of tissue in your body. The others are epithelium, nervous tissue and muscle tissue. All of the organs and systems of your body are made of one of these tissues. When most people talk about connective tissue, they’re usually talking about tissues like joints and tendons. But connective tissue can describe other structures in your body, too.

Connective tissue has two main types: connective tissue proper and specialized connective tissues.

Connective tissue proper

There are two main forms of connective tissue proper.

• Areolar (loose) connective tissue. This is the soft, elastic, and cushiony padding of your body that fills the spaces between your organs and tissues to protect them.
• Dense connective tissues. This refers to the tougher tissue that supports and protects your body’s structure. Some of these — like the dermis (the middle layer of your skin) — are irregular. That means they don’t have an organized structure, while others, like tendons, ligaments and the whites of your eyes, have an organized structure.

Specialized connective tissues

Specialized connective tissues have specific jobs. Some have close links to connective tissue proper. But you might be surprised to know about some tissues that also count as connective. These include:

• Body fat (adipose tissue)
• Bones
• Cartilage
• Fluid connective tissues like blood and lymph
• Reticular connective tissues like bone marrow and parts of your lymphatic system

Where is connective tissue found in my body?

Connective tissue is found just about everywhere in your body. It includes your blood, bones and layers of your skin.

Is blood a connective tissue?

Yes, blood is technically a fluid connective tissue. It links nearly all parts of your body in some way, which means it counts as a connective tissue.

Is cartilage a connective tissue?

Yes, cartilage is a key connective tissue. It’s essential for linking and supporting key parts throughout your body.

Which conditions and disorders can affect connective tissue?

The conditions and disorders that can affect tissue vary. Connective tissue diseases can broadly affect multiple connective tissues or tissue types. Other diseases depend partly on the specific type of tissue. Examples of tissue-specific conditions include:

Bone conditions and diseases

Examples of bone conditions and diseases include:

• Bone bruises
• Fractures
• Osteoporosis
• Paget’s disease of the bone
• Rickets

Blood disorders and diseases

Conditions that can affect your blood include:

• Anemia
• Blood disorders
• Clotting disorders
• Leukemia (blood cancer)

Cartilage diseases and conditions

Your cartilage is prone to the following diseases and conditions:

• Osteoarthritis
• Autoimmune arthritis conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis or Sjögren’s syndrome
• Gout or pseudogout
• Spinal/vertebral disk disease

Ligament and tendon conditions

Ligaments link bones to bones and help stabilize joints. Tendons link muscles to bones. These connective tissues are vulnerable to the following conditions and diseases:

• Genetic disorders like Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Sprains and tears
• Inflammation (like tendonitis)

Skin disorders

Your skin is a key form of connective tissue. It’s vulnerable to the following conditions and diseases:

• Acne
• Athlete’s foot
• Cancers like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma
• Cellulitis
• Eczema
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Jock itch
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea
• Ringworm
• Skin injuries like lacerations, abrasions or burns

What are some common signs or symptoms of a connective tissue condition?

Some connective tissue diseases or conditions affect how your body moves and looks. One example is having joints that are much more flexible than they should be (joint hypermobility syndrome). Some connective tissue disorders can affect your height or the appearance of your bone structure. One famous example of that is how some researchers suspect that former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln had Marfan syndrome. They base that on photos of him and written accounts from people around him.

The signs and symptoms of connective tissue disorders vary widely. Some, like signs of injuries, are more general. They include:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Fatigue
• Pain
• Limited range of movement
• Lumps or bumps under the skin
• Skin changes
• Swelling

There are many types of connective tissues in your body, and many conditions can impact them. So, there’s a huge range of possible symptoms. It’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider if you suspect you might have a connective tissue condition or issue. They can check for conditions. They’ll also advise you on symptoms to watch for and what they might mean.

Common tests to check for connective tissue issues

Ways to test for possible connective tissue conditions include:

• Imaging tests. Imaging tests like X-rays and CT scans are especially good for looking for bone-related issues. Tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound may offer better pictures of issues in non-bony tissues.
• Lab tests. Urine and blood tests may detect signs of connective tissue disorders. Tests for immune markers may help diagnose autoimmune diseases. And genetic testing may help diagnose inherited or genetic conditions.
• Physical examination. A healthcare provider can use a physical exam to look at different areas of your body for signs that they can see or feel.

What are some possible treatments for connective tissue-related issues?

The treatments for connective tissue concerns vary depending on many factors. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you about treatment options. They’ll be best able to provide information that’s most relevant to you.

How can I take care of my connective tissue?

Taking care of your connective tissue is much like taking care of your body in general. Some key things you can do include:

• See a primary care provider at least once a year. Those visits typically include a physical exam and routine blood work. Routine tests can often detect connective tissue conditions before you have symptoms.
• Reach and maintain a weight that’s healthy for you. This helps because it reduces strain and wear on connective tissue in your joints.
• Make eating a variety of nutritious foods a priority. Good nutrition can help maintain connective tissue health.
• Protect yourself from injuries. Safety equipment like seat belts can prevent or limit the severity of injuries that damage connective tissue.