Adhesion junctions are formed by intercellular filaments. Connective tissue supports, protects, provides frameworks, fills spaces, stores fat, and produces blood cells. A matrix that varies from solid to fluid separates connective tissue cells. Loose connective tissue binds structures together and can be found between epithelial layers. Fibroblasts are suspended in a jellylike matrix containing both collagen and elastic fibers.
Adipose tissue is a type of loose connective tissue that stores fat.
Fibrous connective tissue contains many collagen fibers and can be found in tendons and ligaments, which heal slowly because of their poor blood supply. Cartilage cells lie within small chambers called lacunae within the gel-like matrix. Hyaline cartilage, found at the ends of long bones and in the fetal skeleton, contains very fine collagen fibers. Elastic cartilage has elastic fibers and is found in the outer ear. Fibrocartilage contains strong collagen fibers that aid in shock absorption between vertebrae and within knees.