This page focuses on the specialized connective tissues of cartilage and adipose , bone and blood . To review the embryonic and ordinary connective tissue types, head back to the previous page . Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue that provides for both strength and flexibility. Cartilage forms the precursor for the vertebrate skeleton in the embryo, which is replaced by bone in the neonate.
Hyaline cartilage is also what makes up the cartilage in the nose, bronchi, larynx and trachea.
Since the adipose has been remove with the processing of this slice, only a space remains. Surrounding the adipose cells is a fine network of collagen fibres, which give the cells support. These two sections are dry ground sections of mammalian compact bone. The image at the right shows a higher power image of one of the Haversian systems seen on the section on the left. The Haversian system is the basis for the structural organization of mammalian compact bones and is composed of concentric lamellae, the Haversian canal, lacunae and canaliculi.