The importance of connective tissue for the skin becomes clear to most people when changes in the skin structure become noticeable. These are usually based on the natural aging of connective tissue and make the skin appear flabbier and duller. However, connective tissue is not only responsible for the aesthetics of the skin.
What is connective tissue?
Basically, dermatologists and physicians, as well as cosmetologists, understand the name connective tissue as a summary of quite different types of tissue. In addition, connective tissue is not only in the outer shell of the body. The connective tissue has a very important function inside the organism and it covers very different organs. Therefore, depending on the consistency of the fibrous components, connective tissue is categorized as either supportive, bone or cartilage tissue. All human and animal bodies cannot do without connective tissue, making connective tissue an extremely important and common type of skin.
Anatomy and structure
According to its nature, connective tissue is divided into loose, tight, collagenous and reticular structures. The cytological basis for connective tissue is always connective tissue cells, the substances between the individual cells and different fiber components. The organic parts, which are between the cells in connective tissue, are also called inter (inter = between) cellular substances. The connective tissue cells can be so pronounced that they are firmly embedded or can leave their position. Within the anatomy in connective tissue, protein structures are primarily found, which are made of collagen. Collagen has a spiral shape and gives the flesh its coarse, partially elastic property as well as its toughness. Some connective tissue cells also have a round shape.
Functions and tasks
The functions in connective tissue are quite extensive. This is also the reason why the cells of connective tissue have such a differentiated structure. First of all, the connective tissue serves as a sliding and displacement medium and is present as a demarcation between different organs. Another function of the connective tissue is to support and stabilize the body. This ability refers to the connective tissue found in muscles, blood and lymph vessels, and nerves. Connective tissue is also involved in the histological construction of many organs. Since not all connective tissue is composed of one and the same cell type, it can also store special metabolic products. The connective tissue is also capable of producing special endogenous substances. The connective tissue is a complex structure that provides nutrients and oxygen to other tissue cells. The connective tissue is able to absorb amazing amounts of water and fat and closes the open wound area when the skin is injured. This process is partially reflected in the formation of scars by connective tissue. Due to the firm union of the individual components in connective tissue, pathogens cannot break through the skin barrier.
Diseases
A quite common disease, which can occur with connective tissue, is connective tissue weakness. The characteristics of the connective tissue are to a large extent genetically predetermined. Some triggers for the diseases in connective tissue are also acquired. This is true, for example, of scurvy and rheumatoid arthritis. Degradation of connective tissue is caused by long periods of starvation and a lack of exercise (weightless space). Tumors that grow in connective tissue are called fibromas or lipomas. The tumors in connective tissue, which are characterized by a malignant course, are fibro-, lipo- or rhabdosarcomas. Hereditary diseases of connective tissue are vitreous bone disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome. All in all, diseases of the connective tissue are summarized under the term collagenoses, because in almost every case impairments of the collagenous structures of the connective tissue are the causal triggers. In the case of brittle bone disease, there is a reduced formation of collagenous substances due to changes in the genetic information. This leads to insufficient stability and elasticity of the connective tissue, so that bones can break even under the slightest mechanical influences.Other very specific diseases of connective tissue include polymyalgia rheumatica, a weakness of the ligaments, hypermobility syndrome with inflammation of the blood vessels, and Sjögren’s syndrome.
Typical and common diseases
- Stretch marks
- Progressive systemic scleroderma
- Stretch marks
- Cellulite (orange peel skin)
