Origin: mesenchyme
Location: filling between apposed body parts, beneath the epithelia, external wrapping for vessels, nerves, muscles and fasciae.
Function: permission of diffusion of oxygen and nutrients between the microvasculature and adjacent tissue.
Location: between cells and fibers.
Composition: tissue (extracellular) fluid, amorphous component: proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans (hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, heparin, keratan sulfate).
Location: extracellular, in the ground substance
Function: flexible, high tensile strength.
Composition: type I collagen
Function: supporting framework for cells.
Composition: type III collagen.
Location: stroma in hemopoietic and lymphatic (but not the thymus) organs, basement membranes.
Function: limitation of distensibility, prevention of tearing from excessive stretching.
Composition: elastin, fibrillin.
Fixed cell population
Function: synthesis of collagen, elastic and reticular fibers, and complex carbohydrates of the ground substance.
Function: phagocytosis (defence activity and cleanup operation), immune reactions by presenting lymphocytes with antigens.
Function: synthesis and release of histamine, slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis, eosinophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis, heparin, immune and inflammatory reactions.
Function: accumulation of neutral fat
Function: undifferentiated cells, source of fibroblasts and blood vessels in repair (wounds healing).
Location: around capillaries and venules.
Function: antibody-producing cells derived from B lymphocytes
Function: structural attachment, filtration, compartmentalization (separation and isolation of the connective tissue from epithelia, nerve, muscle tissue), barrier.
Composition: type IV collagen, proteoglycans, laminin, reticular fibers.