The connective tissue is responsible for the cohesion of the organs in the body. It must have a certain elasticity in order to fulfill its sliding and displacement function in the organism. Loss of connective tissue elasticity can lead to serious diseases.
What is connective tissue elasticity?
Connective tissue does not represent a single type of tissue, but is defined by its common properties. It is present throughout the body and performs supportive functions. Its main role is to maintain the forms of organs. It protects the organs from damage, stores water and, in cooperation with the immune system, fends off pathogens. However, in addition to its tensile strength, it must also possess a certain elasticity so that the position and shape of the organs can be flexibly and reversibly adjusted. In contrast to other tissue forms, connective tissue consists of relatively few cells. On the other hand, these cells are connected by a network of protein chains. Every organ is surrounded by connective tissue. Thus, the skin and mucous membranes are also part of the connective tissue. There is also a network of protein structures between the organs, which ensure their cohesion.
Function and task
Connective tissue is indispensable for bodily functions and the cohesion of organs. In this context, connective tissue elasticity plays a crucial role. Among other things, it is a prerequisite for smooth muscle work. During every physical movement, it must be ensured that the internal organs can adapt flexibly. The same applies to the shape of the organs. Without this flexibility and elasticity, damage to the organs would occur with fatal consequences. However, the function can only be realized by a combination of different types of connective tissue. Thus, a distinction is made between loose, tight and reticular connective tissue. Other types include fatty tissue, gelatinous connective tissue, and cartilage and bone tissue. Overall, all connective tissue types contain blood vessels and nerves to supply the embedded organs. The loose connective tissue acts as a filler between the various organs, providing mobility, water storage and a matrix for many free-moving cells. At the same time, it also houses immune cells that can fight off pathogens. Adipose tissue also represents loose connective tissue, although unlike other forms of connective tissue, it has hardly any intercellular substance. Tight connective tissue is found primarily in the sclera of the eyes, in the hard meninges, in the organ capsules and in the muscle tendons. It consists mostly of collagen fibers, the proportion of which is much higher there than in loose connective tissue. It also has even fewer cells and forms either tight meshwork-like structures in the case of the eye cornea, meninges and organ capsules or tight parallel-fiber structures in the case of tendons and ligaments. Reticular connective tissue represents a three-dimensional network and is mainly present in lymphoid organs such as spleen, lymph nodes or lymphoid tissue. The collagenous fibers are tensile, although hardly stretchable. Therefore, in almost all types of connective tissues there are also elastic fibers that can be stretched in any direction, returning to their original position each time. They consist of fibrillin and the protein elastin. Elastin is a ball-shaped protein chain that can be pulled apart, but then returns to its original shape. This is what gives connective tissue its elasticity. Elastic connective tissue is particularly important in lung tissue, ligaments and arterial blood vessels. Fibrous connective tissue is mainly responsible for connective tissue elasticity, while loose connective tissue provides for the transport of substances between blood and cells.
Diseases and ailments
When connective tissue weakens, its elasticity is also lost. In the process, its ability to give shape and support to the body disappears. The shifting and sliding function is also no longer performed properly. Externally, a weakness of the connective tissue is often noticeable by cellulite, stretch marks or wrinkles. Furthermore, organ sagging can occur, since the reduced connective tissue elasticity makes it impossible to return completely to the original shape. Women, due to other hormonal conditions, suffer more frequently from connective tissue weakness than men.Thus, more cross-links were found in the connective tissue of the average man, which support its strength and elasticity. One of the most common connective tissue weaknesses manifests itself in the so-called uterine prolapse, which affects many women. In this case, the uterus presses on other organs such as the urinary bladder and can lead to unpleasant pain or, in individual cases, even to life-threatening conditions (such as urinary retention). There are many causes that can lead to a weakening of the connective tissue. For example, nutrition, hormonal changes, medications and also certain genetic defects play a significant role. For example, the condition of the connective tissue deteriorates when the body becomes overly acidic. In this case, important protein chains with a supporting function are broken down. Hormone changes during menopause cause estrogen levels to drop. This also leads to weakening of the connective tissue. Some medications also promote hyperacidity of the body and thus contribute to decreasing connective tissue elasticity. However, there are also genetic conditions that produce defective connective tissue structures and thus cause the most severe diseases. One example is the so-called Marfan syndrome, which is inherited in an autosomal-dominant manner and manifests itself in vascular malformations (aneurysms), eye diseases, anomalies of the skeletal system and skin anomalies. Also known is the acquired connective tissue disease scurvy, which used to be common among seafarers due to lack of vitamin C supply and often led to death. Vitamin C is responsible as a coenzyme for the hydroxylation of proline and lysine and thus ensures their cross-linking within the protein chains of connective tissue.
