Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (584 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Tissue that supports and binds other tissues. It consists of connective tissue cells embedded in a large amount of extracellular matrix.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Connective Tissues; Tissue, Connective; Tissues, Connective.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Tissues
- Narrower topics
- Adipose Tissue; Adventitia; Bone and Bones; Cartilage; Elastic Tissue; Fascia; Granulation Tissue; Interosseous Membrane; Ligaments; Subcutaneous Tissue; Wharton Jelly
- See also
- Cellulitis; Collagen
Related concepts
- Connective Tissue Cells
- Extracellular Matrix
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 414,878 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Connective Tissue” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 71,732 of them (17.3%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 155,500 records.
Reviews account for 45,630 records (11.0%) and meta-analyses for 1,972. Randomized controlled trials number 8,580 (2.1%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 155,500 |
| 2000-2009 | 72,777 |
| 2010-2019 | 114,869 |
| 2020 onward | 71,732 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 45,630 | 11.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,972 | 0.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 8,580 | 2.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Connective Tissue"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Regulate Bone Maintenance During Hibernation Through miRNA-Mediated Signaling | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42645196 · DOI · PMC13511335 |
| Intelligent Orthopedics: Machine Learning in Diagnosis of Bone Disease, Implants, and Bone Health Monitoring | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42473118 · DOI · PMC13674126 |
| The impact of stroke on intramuscular connective tissue in mice | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42661804 · DOI · PMC13518577 |
Muscle-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Regulate Bone Maintenance During Hibernation Through miRNA-Mediated Signaling [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Prolonged skeletal muscle disuse, such as extended inactivity and mechanical unloading, typically elicits severe muscle atrophy and progressive bone loss, yet hibernating mammals evade this pathological cascade via poorly defined adaptive mechanisms.
- Closing excerpt
- Collectively, hibernating Mu-EVs mitigate this BMP7-inhibiting miRNA to sustain osteogenic activity, hinting at a conserved regulatory cascade that could offer tentative translational clues for managing disuse osteoporosis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (157 words)
Prolonged skeletal muscle disuse, such as extended inactivity and mechanical unloading, typically elicits severe muscle atrophy and progressive bone loss, yet hibernating mammals evade this pathological cascade via poorly defined adaptive mechanisms. Using the Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus) as a unique natural model of prolonged torpor, we demonstrate that skeletal muscle-derived small extracellular vesicles (Mu-EVs) orchestrate protective muscle-bone crosstalk to maintain bone homeostasis during extended disuse. Morphological and microstructural analyses revealed no significant deficits in skeletal muscle and tibial bone between pre-hibernation (PRE) and torpor (TOR) states. Compared with PRE-Mu-EVs, TOR-Mu-EVs significantly enhanced osteogenic differentiation in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, markedly upregulating mRNA expression of the key osteogenic markers OCN and COL1A1 (p p p p n = 5, 0.05 p < 0.1, Cohen's d = 0.71, 95% CI [-0.16, 1.38]). Collectively, hibernating Mu-EVs mitigate this BMP7-inhibiting miRNA to sustain osteogenic activity, hinting at a conserved regulatory cascade that could offer tentative translational clues for managing disuse osteoporosis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42645196 · DOI · PMC13511335
Intelligent Orthopedics: Machine Learning in Diagnosis of Bone Disease, Implants, and Bone Health Monitoring [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Bone regeneration in orthopedics is a great challenge, as efficient recovery affects patient's quality of life.
- Closing excerpt
- Altogether, considering the continued evolution of ML, its integration into clinical applications will be crucial for developing truly intelligent bone regeneration therapies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (199 words)
Bone regeneration in orthopedics is a great challenge, as efficient recovery affects patient's quality of life. Common methods encounter different limitations regarding diagnosis, implantation, and bone health monitoring. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), specifically machine learning (ML) algorithms, have presented opportunities to enhance these aspects by accurately analyzing imaging data. This provides detailed evaluations that help to determine bone condition and guide treatment strategies. ML models can facilitate a patient-specific approach to select and design intelligent implants by examining extensive biomaterial datasets to identify the best match for each patient's biomechanical and biological needs. Furthermore, ML models can analyze data to accurately predict bone-healing timelines, allowing clinicians to track recovery trends, and make timely interventions in potential complications. In clinical settings, ML tools assist with preoperative planning, postoperative follow-up, and the design of intelligent implants, offering more effective, data-driven decision-making and favorable outcomes in bone regeneration. Looking ahead, while ML advancements show promise for effective orthopedic therapies, challenges persist. ML could revolutionize bone regeneration in various ways and offer predictive insights that promote patient-centered orthopedic care. Altogether, considering the continued evolution of ML, its integration into clinical applications will be crucial for developing truly intelligent bone regeneration therapies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42473118 · DOI · PMC13674126
The impact of stroke on intramuscular connective tissue in mice [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundPrevious studies about post-stroke peripheral structural remodeling have been focused on muscle fiber alterations, while extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in musculoskeletal tissues remains unclear.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings provide biochemical evidence of early alterations in extracellular matrix composition after stroke.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (228 words)
BackgroundPrevious studies about post-stroke peripheral structural remodeling have been focused on muscle fiber alterations, while extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in musculoskeletal tissues remains unclear. This study examines changes in extracellular matrix (ECM), specifically hyaluronan (HA) and collagen, in forelimb muscles following distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) in mice.MethodsTwenty-two 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice (10 male, 12 female) were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 10; 4 male, 6 female) or the experimental group (n = 12; 6 male, 6 female). 4 weeks post-stroke, forelimb muscle samples were collected and analyzed for HA and collagen distribution and concentrations.ResultsHA concentrations were significantly elevated in both the left (stroke affected) forelimb muscles (63.74 ± 11.80 μg/g), and right (unaffected) forelimb muscles (64.16 ± 13.52 μg/g) of stroke mice compared to the controls (left: 50.07 ± 8.84 μg/g, p = 0.022; and right: 49.36 ± 12.22 μg/g, p = 0.015). No significant difference in HA levels was observed between the affected and unaffected sides of stroke mice (p = 0.905). Collagen concentrations did not differ significantly among groups (control left: 8.62 ± 2.91 μg/g; control right: 8.77 ± 1.35 μg/g; stroke-affected: 8.24 ± 2.11 μg/g; stroke-unaffected: 8.28 ± 2.45 μg/g).ConclusionThe results revealed a systemic increase in HA concentration in the stroke group, while collagen levels remained unchanged. These findings provide biochemical evidence of early alterations in extracellular matrix composition after stroke.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42661804 · DOI · PMC13518577
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Quadriceps Tendon Autograft Versus Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone and Hamstring Tendon Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Effect of SGLT2-Inhibitors on Epicardial Adipose Tissue: A Meta-Analysis [5]
- Research article Body fat and risk of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies [6]
- Research article Effects of various exercise types on visceral adipose tissue in individuals with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 84 randomized controlled trials [7]
- Research article Meta-Analysis of Adipose Tissue Derived Cell-Based Therapy for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis [8]
- Research article Reproductive outcome after cesarean scar pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis [9]
References
- He Y, Pan F, Kong Y, Zhang Z, Wang A, Cui M, et al.. Muscle-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Regulate Bone Maintenance During Hibernation Through miRNA-Mediated Signaling. . 2026. PMID 42645196 · DOI · PMC13511335
- Kamaei M, Mohammadi H, Golafshan S, Alehosseini M, Mohammadzadeh M, Golshirazi A, et al.. Intelligent Orthopedics: Machine Learning in Diagnosis of Bone Disease, Implants, and Bone Health Monitoring. . 2026. PMID 42473118 · DOI · PMC13674126
- Zhao X, Morri G, D'Urso M, Fede C, Petrelli L, Vignozzi L, et al.. The impact of stroke on intramuscular connective tissue in mice. . 2026. PMID 42661804 · DOI · PMC13518577
- Dai W, Leng X, Wang J, Cheng J, Hu X, Ao Y. Quadriceps Tendon Autograft Versus Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone and Hamstring Tendon Autografts for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. 2022. PMID 34494906 · DOI
- Masson W, Lavalle-Cobo A, Nogueira JP. Effect of SGLT2-Inhibitors on Epicardial Adipose Tissue: A Meta-Analysis. Cells. 2021. PMID 34440918 · DOI · PMC8391573
- Jayedi A, Khan TA, Aune D, Emadi A, Shab-Bidar S. Body fat and risk of all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Int J Obes (Lond). 2022. PMID 35717418 · DOI
- Chen X, He H, Xie K, Zhang L, Cao C. Effects of various exercise types on visceral adipose tissue in individuals with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 84 randomized controlled trials. Obes Rev. 2024. PMID 38031812 · DOI
- Agarwal N, Mak C, Bojanic C, To K, Khan W. Meta-Analysis of Adipose Tissue Derived Cell-Based Therapy for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis. Cells. 2021. PMID 34206010 · DOI · PMC8228374
- Morlando M, Buca D, Timor-Tritsch I, Cali G, Palacios-Jaraquemada J, Monteagudo A, et al.. Reproductive outcome after cesarean scar pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2020. PMID 32419158 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.