The connective tissues are heterogeneous group of tissues derived from the mesenchyme, a meshwork of stellate cells that develop in the middle layer of the early embryo. They have the general function of maintaining the structural integrity of organs, and providing cohesion and internal support for the body as a whole. The connective tissues include several types of fibrous tissue that vary only in their density and cellularity, as well as more specialized variants ranging from adipose tissue through cartilage to bone. The cells that are responsible for the specific function of an organ are referred to as it parenchyma, while the delicate fibrous meshwork that blinds the cells together into functional units, the fibrous partitions or septa that enclose aggregations of functional units, and the dense fibrous capsule that encloses the whole organ, collectively make up its connective-tissue framework, or stroma. Blood vessels, both large and small, course through connective tissues, which is therefore closely associated with the nourishment of tissues and organs throughout the body. All nutrient materials and waste products exchanged between the organs and the blood must traverse peri-vascular spaces occupied by connective tissue. One of the important functions of the connective – tissue cells is to maintain conditions in the extra-cellular spaces that favour this exchange.
Some organs are suspended from the wall of a body cavity by thin sheets of connective tissues called mesenteries; others are embedded in adipose tissue a form of a connective tissue in which the cells are specialized for the synthesis and storage of energy-rich reserves of fat, or lipid. The entire body is supported from within by a skeleton composed of bone, a type of connective tissue endowed with great resistance to stress owing to its highly ordered, laminated structure and to its hardness, which results from deposition of mineral salts in its fibres and amorphous matrix. The individual bones of the skeleton are held firmly together by ligaments, and muscles are attached to bone by tendons, both of which are examples of dense connective tissue in which many fibre bundles are associated in parallel array to provide great tensile strength. At joints, the articular surfaces of the bones are covered with cartilage, a connective tissue with an abundant intercellular substance that gives it a firm consistency well adopted to permit smooth gliding movements between the opposed surfaces. The synovial membrane, which lines the margins of the joint cavity and lubricates and nourishes the joint surfaces, is also a form of connective tissue.
The passage has most probably been taken from a book on
Show Hint
- neurology
- nutrition
- physiology
- calisthenics
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: This focus on bodily structures and their functions aligns with physiology, the study of how living organisms function.
Step 3: Option C (physiology) matches this description.
Step 4: Option A (neurology) is incorrect as the passage does not discuss the nervous system.
Step 5: Option B (nutrition) is wrong as nutrient exchange is mentioned but not the main focus.
Step 6: Option D (calisthenics) relates to exercise, not tissue functions.
Verification: The detailed description of connective tissues’ roles points to physiology.
Mesenteries are
Show Hint
- adipose tissue in which some organs are embedded
- referred to as parenchyma, and are responsible for specific functions of an organ
- thin sheets from which some organs are suspended
- cells through which blood flows
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: Option C (thin sheets from which some organs are suspended) directly matches this definition.
Step 3: Option A (adipose tissue) is incorrect; adipose tissue is a different type of connective tissue for fat storage.
Step 4: Option B (parenchyma) is wrong as parenchyma refers to functional organ tissue, not connective tissue.
Step 5: Option D (cells for blood flow) is incorrect; blood flow occurs through peri-vascular spaces, not mesenteries.
Verification: The passage’s explicit definition of mesenteries supports option C.
Through peri-vascular spaces exchange takes place between
Show Hint
- blood and organs
- cells and embryo
- nutrients and waste products
- septa and stroma
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: This indicates that peri-vascular spaces facilitate exchange between blood and organs.
Step 3: Option A (blood and organs) matches this description.
Step 4: Option B (cells and embryo) is incorrect as embryos are not mentioned.
Step 5: Option C (nutrients and waste products) is misleading; these are exchanged, but the passage specifies between blood and organs.
Step 6: Option D (septa and stroma) is wrong as these are structural tissues, not involved in exchange.
Verification: The passage’s focus on blood-organ exchange in peri-vascular spaces supports option A.
Some instances of connective tissues are
I. Cartilage
II. Stroma
III. Lipid
IV. Synovia
Show Hint
- I, II, III & IV
- I, III & IV only
- I, II, & IV only
- I and II only
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 2: Cartilage (I) is explicitly listed as a connective tissue covering joint surfaces.
Step 3: Stroma (II) is implied as a connective tissue supporting organ functions, as per general biological knowledge.
Step 4: Synovia (IV) refers to the synovial membrane, explicitly called a connective tissue in the passage.
Step 5: Lipid (III) is incorrect; adipose tissue stores lipids, but lipid itself is not a tissue.
Step 6: Option C (I, II, & IV only) includes cartilage, stroma, and synovia, excluding lipid.
Verification: The passage and biological knowledge confirm cartilage, stroma, and synovia as connective tissues.
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
Read the sentence and infer the writer's tone: "The politician's speech was filled with lofty promises and little substance, a performance repeated every election season."
- CUET (UG) - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Read the sentence and answer the question: ``Not only did he forget my birthday, but he also ignored my calls the next day." Which of the following best describes the tone?
- CUET (UG) - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Read the passage and answer the The Reserve Bank of India was established in the year 1935. The Central office of RBI is in Mumbai. The main function of the Reserve Bank of India is to regulate the issue of Bank Notes and keeping of reserves with a view to securing monetary stability in India. It generally operates the currency and credit system of the country to its advantage. In this passage, ‘Bank Notes’ refers to
- KMAT KERALA - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Read the passage and answer the Animals are the most adorable and loving creatures existing on Earth. They may not be able to speak but they can understand. Domestic animals mostly move with humans. Wild animals generally live in forests. Animals play a vital role in maintaining nature’s balance. This passage primarily focused on the importance of
- KMAT KERALA - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- Read the passage and answer the A psychotropic drug is a chemical substance that changes the function of the nervous system. If the charges under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic substances Act are proved, the accused will get a deterrent punishment. Police will take in drug addicts and admit them in centres for rehabilitation. This passage primarily focused on
- KMAT KERALA - 2025
- English
- Reading Comprehension
Questions Asked in CAT exam
When $10^{100}$ is divided by 7, the remainder is ?
- CAT - 2024
- Basics of Numbers
- A shop wants to sell a certain quantity (in kg) of grains. It sells half the quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the first customer. Then, it sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the second customer. Finally, when the shop sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the third customer, there are no grains left. The initial quantity, in kg, of grains is
- CAT - 2024
- Algebra
- Gopi marks a price on a product in order to make 20% profit. Ravi gets 10% discount on this marked price, and thus saves Rs 15. Then, the profit, in rupees, made by Gopi by selling the product to Ravi, is
- CAT - 2024
- Profit and Loss
- If m and n are natural numbers such that n > 1, and mn = 225 × 340, then m − n equals
- CAT - 2024
- Exponents and Powers
- Five jumbled up sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), related to a topic, are given below. Four of them can be put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd sentence and key in the number of that sentence as your answer.
- CAT - 2024
- Para Jumbles