Connective Tissue Disease: Current Concepts
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Fibroblast Derived Human Engineered Connective Tissue for Screening Applications
Published on: August 20, 2021
1Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, 9500 Euclid Avenue A61, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Abstract:
Connective tissue diseases often prominently affect the skin, requiring dermatologists to play an important role in diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Herein we describe updates on the pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment of 4 major connective tissue diseases: dermatomyositis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, limited scleroderma (morphea), and cutaneous vasculitis. Many of these updates promise to improve clinical care of patients who suffer from dermatologic involvement of these diseases and are the result of research performed by dermatologists who have expertise in these conditions.
More Related Videos
08:43Application of Granger Causality Analysis of the Directed Functional Connection in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: August 7, 2017
09:38Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction PPI Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Connective Tissues
Classification of Connective Tissues
Connective Tissue Proper
Connective tissue proper is the most abundant class of connective tissues. As its name implies, it predominantly connects different tissues in the body. Depending on the cell types, ground substance, viscosity, and fiber types in the ECM, connective tissue proper is further categorized into loose and dense....
Embryonic Connective Tissues
The mesenchyme is the first connective tissue that emerges in the developing embryo. It consists of loosely arranged multipotent mesenchymal cells and reticular fibers in the extracellular matrix. This loose arrangement allows easy migration of cells, which is essential for germ layer positioning, patterning, and organ morphogenesis during embryonic development.
Dense Connective Tissue
Dense Regular Connective Tissue
In dense regular connective tissue, fibers are arranged parallel to each other, enhancing its tensile strength and resistance to stretching in the direction of the fiber orientations. Ligaments and tendons are made of dense regular...
Functions of Connective Tissues
Hard connective tissues, such as bones and cartilage, provide structure and support to the body.
Loose Connective Tissue
Adipose Tissue
Adipose tissue consists primarily of fat storage cells called adipocytes and little extracellular matrix. A large number of capillaries present within adipose tissue allow rapid mobilization of lipid molecules. White adipose tissue is...