connective tissue

American  

noun

Anatomy.

1. a tissue, usually of mesoblastic origin, that connects, supports, or surrounds other tissues, organs, etc.

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connective tissue British  

noun

1. an animal tissue developed from the embryonic mesoderm that consists of collagen or elastic fibres, fibroblasts, fatty cells, etc, within a jelly-like matrix. It supports organs, fills the spaces between them, and forms tendons and ligaments

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connective tissue Scientific  

/ kə-nĕk′tĭv /

1. Tissue that connects, supports, binds, or encloses the structures of the body. Connective tissues are made up of cells embedded in an extracellular matrix and include bones, cartilage, mucous membranes, fat, and blood.

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connective tissue Cultural  

1. Body tissue that serves to connect or support other tissues or parts. Cartilage, tendons, and bone are all kinds of connective tissue.

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Etymology

Origin of connective tissue

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

connective tissue

Kate has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which affects connective tissue and was admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary with a suspected intestinal failure.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

The life I pictured appeared in View-Master slides, each image crisp and complete, with all the inconvenient connective tissue outsourced.

From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026

But these two events share unexpected connective tissue — moms seeking to expand their athletic identities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

The most effective programs integrate economic reasoning as the connective tissue that makes financial concepts coherent and transferable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026

Ebola attacks connective tissue with particular ferocity; it multiplies in collagen, the chief constituent protein of the tissue that holds the organs together.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston