Connective tissue
Connective tissue: A material made up of fibers forming a framework and support structure for body tissues and organs. Connective tissue surrounds many organs. Cartilage and bone are specialized forms of connective tissue. All connective tissue is derived from mesoderm, the middle germ cell layer in the embryo.
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- Connective tissue disease
A disease (autoimmune or otherwise) that attacks the collagen or other core components of connective tissue. Lupus is a connective tissue disease.
- Connective tissue disease, heritable
Connective tissue disease, heritable: See: Heritable connective tissue disease.
- Connexin
Connexin: A subunit of connexon, a protein that forms a gap junction, a channel that permits ions and small molecules to move between adjacent cells. The connexins are important to intercellular communication. Historically, gap junctions were first characterized by EM (electron microscopy). They appeared to be specialized structures in the plasma membranes of cells in […]
- Connexin 26
Connexin 26: Also known as gap junction beta 2, or GJB2. See: GJB2. See also: Connexin.
- Connexon
Connexon: A special type of protein composed of an assembly of six subunits that are called connexins. A connexon of one cell is joined to that of an adjacent cell to form an intercellular channel consisting of 12 connexin subunits. Clusters of intercellular channels are known as a gap junction because of the minute extracellular […]