What is the key distinction of connective tissue proper compared to other types?

Connective tissue proper is primarily characterized by its role in supporting and connecting various body tissues. This type of connective tissue is composed of a diverse array of cells and extracellular matrix, which allows it to play a crucial role in providing structural support, as well as in anchoring organs and other tissues together. It is essential in maintaining the integrity of different bodily systems by facilitating communication and transport of nutrients and waste between tissues.

While other types of tissues have specific functions, such as the epithelial tissue that absorbs nutrients or the nervous tissue that conducts electrical signals, connective tissue proper is distinct in its overall supportive and connective function. Similarly, while certain types of immune cells can be found within connective tissues, fighting infections is not a primary defining characteristic of connective tissue proper itself; rather, this function is more associated with the blood and lymphatic systems. Thus, the key distinction lies in the fundamental role that connective tissue proper plays in maintaining the structural architecture of the body.