Loose connective tissue skin and mucous membranes, it is more compact and sometimes difficult to distinguish from dense irregular connective tissue. Areolar connective tissues hold organs in place and attaches epithelial tissue to other underlying tissues. It also serves as a reservoir of water and salts for surrounding tissues. Almost all cells obtain their nutrients from and release their wastes into areolar connective tissue. Organs that are rich in loose connective tissue(such as the eyelids) are usually sites that undergo oedema indicating renal failure or nephrotic syndrome. Thus periorbital swelling is one characteristic finding in severe renal disease Loose connective tissue Loose connective
Reticular connective tissue marrow, and spleen). Adipose tissue is held together by reticular fibers. They can be identified in histology by staining with a heavy metal like silver or the PAS stain that stains carbohydrates. Gordon and Gold can also be used. Reticular connective tissue resembles areolar connective tissue, but the only fibers in its matrix are reticular fibers, which form a delicate network along which fibroblasts called reticular cells lie scattered. Although reticular fibers are widely distributed in the body, reticular tissue is limited to certain sites. It forms a labyrinth-like stroma (literally, "bed or "mattress"), or internal framework, that can support