Page 47 - Headlines Histology2024_Neat

• It consists of primitive mesenchymal cells that have an irregular, stellate
shape with delicate branching cytoplasmic processes that form an
interlacing network throughout the tissue.

• The extracellular material consists of non-sulfated amorphous ground
substances with no fibers.

Mucous connective tissues

• The mucous connective tissue is found in many parts of the embryo
especially under the skin and in the umbilical cord “Warton’s Jelly”.

• In adults, it is found in omasal laminae and in the comb and wattles of the
chickens. It consists of large stellate, fibroblasts with branching and
anastomosed cytoplasmic processes.

• Few macrophages and lymphoid cells are also present. The intercellular
substance is rich in mucin and contains thin collagenous fibers which
increase with age

II) Adult connective tissues

I) Loose (ordinary or areolar) connective tissue

• It is the most widely distributed type of connective tissue in the adult
animals.

• It consists of all types of connective tissue cells, fibers that are embedded in
non-sulfated amorphous ground substances.

• The cells are relatively more abundant than fibers that are loosely arranged
leaving comparatively wide spaces in between.

• The loose connective tissue is present around blood vessels and nerves and
between muscle bundles.

• It supports the epithelial lining of gastrointestinal tract, respiratory and
urinary tracts, also forms the deeper layers of skin and occurs as loose
interstitial packing in many other organs.

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