Areolar connective tissue is spongy air-filled tissue. It’s one of four types of connective tissue. It attaches the skin to its various other parts and has few or no blood vessels but allows for their passage in and around. Unlike the other three main types of tissue, epithelial, muscular, or nervous, connective tissue has fewer cells and is composed mainly of inter-cellular or matrix substance.
The types of connective tissue are areolar, discussed here; adipose or fat; fibrous, which also makes up a part of areolar tissue; elastin, likewise a part of areolar tissue, as well as other connective tissue types; reticular, an intricate lace like tissue form; cartilage, which binds and hold and allows for movability; bone, giving structure, support and protection to the various parts of the body.
Areolar connective tissue is loose appears un-connected and unlike most other cellular structures has no particular pattern of its own. It is mostly unseen or unnoticeable packaging within the spaces, filling in and giving support to surrounding structures. It is white when seen as cartilage but among the haphazard-like structure—when viewed microscopically—there are darker or black elastin fibers. These darker thread-like strands give stretch to this type of tissue. As an example: Flexing elbows will shorten or make longer this type of tissue. Another way of describing areolar tissue is to say it is purposely designed to be pulled, pushed, stretched and when the action is over, it can spring back into its near like former form without any obvious harm having been done.
Of all connective tissue, areolar is more abundant and that is easy to see, microscopically, that is. But it can be mentally viewed this way: Look at the outside of a person’s body and imagine you are seeing the underside of the skin. This will give some idea of the vast amount of areolar tissue in the body. Understand that just below the surface packaging material cushions and pads the minute capillaries and nerves that intertwine in and among the areolar tissue.
Tissues are made of cells and areolar tissue is no different, but areolar cells are almost indistinguishable, especially the fibroblasts. tissue. They produce and replenish collagen—proteins necessary for structure and support of tissues—and they are needed for wound healing. Mast cells are visible in microscopic studies because their granules are “dark-staining in their cytoplasm. “ Cytoplasm is the other material of a cell other than its nucleus.
Areolar tissue is either loose or dense dependent upon the amount of elastin or fibrous material it contains. One online site describes areolar tissue in this way: “If a fresh sample of loose connective were hit with a hammer, it would “squish”. If a sample of really dense connective tissue, such as tendon, were hit, the hammer would bounce back.”
What decided where dense or loose fibers are found in the body? Dense tissue is where the connection needs greater strength. As an example: the next layer under the epidermis—the skin—the dermis, the tendons and the ligaments and the sclera—the white of the eye. Loose areolar tissue is the type that is easily distorted. Both types are of paramount important: one stays firm and furnishes strength for heavy action while another moves aside easily making room for maneuverability of nerves, blood vessels and the stronger and more dense cartilages and other joint connectors.
The body is an amazing intricately arranged system and is built up of cells, or blocks of protein in various dimensions and every action, every conceivable notion and possibility has already been put into place. While the facial features, the gorgeous physique, or the delicate piano playing fingers may get the accolades, the underlying areolar tissue is behind the scenes cushioning the falls, parting the ways, and pulling or tugging the ropes and opening the curtains. It’s all one magnificent work of art. And just think, every minute little cell is important, even those that only squish or bounce.
