Connective tissue has a nerve supply except for
cartilage and is highly vascular except for cartilage and
tendons. It consists of three basic elements:
-
Cells
-
Ground Substance
-
Fibers (collagen, elastin and reticular
The ground substance or matrix may be fluid,
semifluid, gelatinous, or calcified. The matrix is
secreted by the connective tissue cells and adjacent cells and
determines the tissues qualities.
The thixotrophic effect is the ability of
connective tissue to become more fluid when it is stirred up
(sol) and more solid when it sits undisturbed (gel).
Collagen is the main ingredient of connective
tissue. It is hollow and may contain cerebral spinal
fluid. It is important in regeneration, growth, wound
healing and it can migrate to any point in the body and adjust
to internal chemistry in response to local conditions. It
can create specific forms of structural tissue appropriate to
that area.
The functions of connective tissue are to bind,
support and strengthen. It supports movement and aids in
posture. It allows for compression, lengthening and
stretching, twisting and rotational movements. It absorbs
shock and disperses stress/load associated with movement
throughout the body. It supports the process of wound
healing, growth, and regeneration. It gives rise to cells that
store fat, ingest bacteria and cell debris, form anticoagulants
or give rise to antibodies that protect against disease.
Muscle is elastic, fascia is plastic.
Stretched a muscle will attempt to recoil back to its
resting length. Stretch fascia quickly and it will
tear (the most frequent form of connective tissue injury.)
If the stretch is applied slowly enough, it will deform
plastically: it will change it's length and retain that
change. Fascia does not snap back although over time and
given the opportunity, it will lay down new fibers which
will rebind the area.
The plasticity of fascia is its essential
nature- it's gift to the body and the key to unraveling it's
long term patterns.
-Tom Myers. Anatomy Trains
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