Embryonic connective tissue

Mesenchyme

Function: primitive connective tissue

Composition:

• Ground substance

• Sparse collagen fibers, reticular fibers

• Mesenchyme cells

Function: secretion of ground substance, fibers, proliferation and differentiation into different connective tissue cell types, smooth muscle cells, blood cells, et al.

Mucous connective tissue

Function: high turgor to resist compression.

Location: umbilical cord

Composition:

• Ground substance  rich in hialuronic acid

• Collagen fibers

• Mucocytes (fibroblasts)

Function: secretion of ground substance, fibers.