<Li> Fibers . Not all types of CT are fibrous . Examples of non-fibrous CT include adipose tissue and blood . Adipose tissue gives "mechanical cushioning" to the body, among other functions . Although there is no dense collagen network in adipose tissue, groups of adipose cells are kept together by collagen fibers and collagen sheets in order to keep fat tissue under compression in place (for example, the sole of the foot). The matrix of blood is plasma . </Li> <Li> Both the ground substance and proteins (fibers) create the matrix for CT . Connective tissues are derived from the mesenchyme . </Li> <P> Types of fibers: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Tissue </Th> <Th> Purpose </Th> <Th> Components </Th> <Th> Location </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Collagenous fibers </Td> <Td> Bind bones and other tissues to each other </Td> <Td> Alpha polypeptide chains </Td> <Td> tendon, ligament, skin, cornea, cartilage, bone, blood vessels, gut, and intervertebral disc . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Elastic fibers </Td> <Td> Allow organs like arteries and lungs to recoil </Td> <Td> Elastic microfibril and elastin </Td> <Td> extracellular matrix </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Reticular fibers </Td> <Td> Form a scaffolding for other cells </Td> <Td> Type III collagen </Td> <Td> liver, bone marrow, and lymphatic organs </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What are the functions and structure of connective tissue