Question

Connective tissue is
A. Ectodermal in origin with intercellular spaces.
B. Mesodermal in origin without intercellular spaces.
C. Ectodermal in origin without intercellular spaces.
D. Mesodermal in origin with intercellular spaces.

Answer 1

Hint: Connective tissue contains loosely arranged cells and is derived from the layer of the embryo that is located in between the two germ layers of the embryo in triploblastic animals and is absent in diploblastic animals.

Complete answer:
Option (A) is incorrect. Connective is not ectodermal in origin but it is mesodermal in origin with intercellular spaces. Ectoderm is the outer layer of the embryo and forms the skin, sweat glands, and hair follicles.
Option (B) is incorrect. Connective tissue contains intercellular spaces as the cells are not tightly packed but are loosely arranged. This tissue is derived from the mesodermal layer of the embryo.
Option (C) is incorrect. Connective tissue is not ectodermal in origin but it is mesodermal in origin and contains intercellular spaces.
Option (D) is correct. Connective tissue is mesodermal in origin and contains intercellular spaces as the cells are arranged loosely in this tissue leaving spaces between them.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Additional information:
Mesodermal layer of the embryo is known to form the muscular system, the skeletal system, the excretory system, the lymphatic and the reproductive system, apart from forming the connective tissue. The constituents of connective tissue are matrix, cells, and fibers. The matrix or ground substance of connective tissue contains a mixture of carbohydrates and proteins to fix the body water and the collagen fibers in the intercellular spaces. Connective tissue has been categorized into loose (cells are very numerous) and dense connective tissue (cells are few with more closely packed fibers) based on the proportion of cells and fibers.

Note: Connective tissue is used for supporting and connecting other tissues and cells that form organs of the body. It is derived from the mesodermal layer of the embryo and contains intercellular spaces.