Ground substance
In connective tissue, the ground substance, is an amorphous gel-like substance surrounding the cells. In a tissue, cells are surrounded and supported by an extracellular matrix. Ground substance traditionally does not include fibers (collagen and elastic fibers), but does include all the other components of the extracellular matrix.[1][dead link]
The components of the ground substance vary depending on the tissue. Ground substance is primarily composed of water, glycosaminoglycans (most notably hyaluronan), proteoglycans, and glycoproteins. Usually it is not visible on slides, because it is lost during the preparation process.[2]
The meaning of the term has evolved over time.[3]
References
- ↑ "connective tissue" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
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External links
- Diagram at mhhe.com
- Histology at KUMC ct-ct15 - "Umbilical Cord"
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