connective tissue

noun

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (such as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (such as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (such as cartilage and bone)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the body, providing support for skin, bones, and connective tissue. —Rebecca Jaspan, Mph, Rd, Cdn, Cdces, Health, 4 Apr. 2023

Key Takeaways Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and provides structure to the skin, cartilage, bone, and connective tissue. —Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 8 Mar. 2023

Plus, it's made with collagen, a key part of healthy skin and connective tissue. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2023

After an incubation period of about a year, the larvae grow into noodle-like worms up to 3 feet long that wrap around tendons, ligaments and connective tissue. —Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2023

Properly ground meat should have a consistent texture with no large pieces of gristle or connective tissue. —Brad Fenson, Field & Stream, 14 Feb. 2023

To shore up their connective tissue, steroid users might inject extra growth hormone on top of what their pituitary glands typically pump out. —William Neff, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2022

It’s found in skin, connective tissue, bone and cartilage. —Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022

That’s a lot of connective tissue. —Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 17 Feb. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

connective tissue

noun

: a tissue (as bone, cartilage, or tendon) that forms a supporting framework for the body or its parts and has protein fibers between the cells composing it

Medical Definition

connective tissue

noun

con·​nec·​tive tissue kə-ˌnek-tiv- 

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (as cartilage and bone)