Connective tissue consists of three main components: cells, protein fibers, and an amorphous ground substance. Together the fibers and ground substance make up the extracellular matrix. Whereas the other tissue types (epithelium, muscle, and nervous tissue) are largely made up of cells, the extracellular matrix is the major component of most connective tissue.

This chapter will focus on the basic types of connective tissue, while subsequent chapters examine the specialized connective tissues (cartilage, bone, and blood).