Page "Loose connective tissue" Paragraph 6

Areolar tissue ( areol (- a ) being Latin for a little open space ) is a common type of connective tissue, also referred to as " loose connective tissue ".

It is strong enough to bind different tissue types together, yet soft enough to provide flexibility and cushioning.

It exhibits interlacing, loosely organized fibers, abundant blood vessels, and significant empty space.

Its fibers run in random directions and are mostly collagenous, but elastic and reticular fibers are also present.

Areolar tissue is highly variable in appearance.

In many serous membranes, it appears as a loose arrangement of collagenous and elastic fibers, scattered cells of various types ; abundant ground substance ; numerous blood vessels.

In the skin and mucous membranes, it is more compact and sometimes difficult to distinguish from dense irregular connective tissue.

It is the most widely distributed connective tissue type in vertebrates.