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 variations ranging from adipose tissue through cartilage to bone. The cells that are responsible for the specific function of an organ are referred to as its parenchyma, while the delicate fibrous network that binds 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
- Neurology (a) is about the nervous system.
- Nutrition (b) is about food and nutrients.
- Calisthenics (d) is exercise-related.
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
- Option (a) refers to adipose tissue, which is different.
- Option (b) describes parenchyma, not mesenteries.
- Option (d) is unrelated to mesenteries.
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
- Option (c) refers to what is exchanged, but the question asks “between which,” so the correct entities are blood and organs.
The connective tissue in which fat is stored is called
Show Hint
- adipose tissue
- mesenteries
- ligaments
- adipose tissue
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
- Options (b) and (c) are different connective tissue types with other functions.
The connective tissues originate in the
Show Hint
- cartilage
- bone
- embryo
- nutrients
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Some instances of connective tissues are
I. Cartilage
II. Stroma
III. Lipid
IV. Synovia
II. Stroma
III. Lipid
IV. Synovia
Show Hint
- I, II, III & IV
- II, III & IV only
- I, II, & IV only
- I and II only
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The tissue which enables smooth gliding movements of neighbouring surfaces is
Show Hint
- adipose tissue
- cartilage
- synovial membrane
- stellate cells
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
- Synovial membrane lubricates joints but is not the direct surface enabler of gliding.
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
- \( 10^{68} \) is divided by 13, the remainder is is
- CAT - 2024
- Divisibility and Remainder
- ABCD is a rectangle with sides AB = 56 cm and BC = 45 cm, and E is the midpoint of side CD. Then, the length, in cm, of radius of incircle of \(\triangle ADE\) is
- CAT - 2024
- Mensuration
- Two places A and B are 45 kms apart and connected by a straight road. Anil goes from A to B while Sunil goes from B to A. Starting at the same time, they cross each other in exactly 1 hour 30 minutes. If Anil reaches B exactly 1 hour 15 minutes after Sunil reaches A, the speed of Anil, in km per hour, is
- CAT - 2024
- Time, Speed and Distance
- The selling price of a product is fixed to ensure 40% profit. If the product had cost 40% less and had been sold for 5 rupees less, then the resulting profit would have been 50%. The original selling price, in rupees, of the product is
- CAT - 2024
- Profit and Loss
- Suppose $x_1, x_2, x_3, \dots, x_{100}$ are in arithmetic progression such that $x_5 = -4$ and $2x_6 + 2x_9 = x_{11} + x_{13}$. Then, $x_{100}$ equals ?
- CAT - 2024
- Arithmetic Progression