Localized scleroderma is confined to the skin and, sometimes, the muscle beneath it. Systemic sclerosis also involves the blood vessels and major organs. Cuboidal – cells are cube-shaped, can be found forming tubes in the nephrons of the kidney, involved in secretion and absorption Williams, S. H., Wright, B. W., Truong, V., den, Daubert, C. R. & Vinyard, C. J. Mechanical properties of foods used in experimental studies of primate masticatory function. Am. J. Primatol. 67, 329–346 (2005). The ground substance of connective tissue contains structural proteins called fibers. There are three types of connective tissue fibers:

Tenorio, L. E. M., Devine, K. J., Lee, J., Kowalewski, T. M. & Barocas, V. H. Biomechanics of human parietal pleura in uniaxial extension. J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. Mater. 75, 330–335 (2017). Wood, L. K. & Brooks, S. V. Ten weeks of treadmill running decreases stiffness and increases collagen turnover in tendons of old mice. J. Orthop. Res. 34, 346–353 (2016).The cells originate from mesenchyme, a loosely organized embryonic tissue featuring elongated cells in a viscous ground substance. Connective tissue cells do not oppose each other but rather are separated by a large extracellular matrix.

Meng, X. M., Nikolic-Paterson, D. J. & Lan, H. Y. Inflammatory processes in renal fibrosis. Nat. Rev. Nephrol. 10, 493–503 (2014).Frenzel, T., Kadic, M. & Wegener, M. Three-dimensional mechanical metamaterials with a twist. Science 358, 1027–1032 (2017). Hollister, S. J. & Lin, C. Y. Computational design of tissue engineering scaffolds. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 196, 2991–2998 (2007). Tracy said: "This is a tool of support, and if one of us doesn't know the answer, we will find out, believe me, we will.

Cilia are small processes found in the respiratory tract and female reproductive tract. Their complex structure facilitates movement that brushes small structures through the lumen of either the trachea or Fallopian tubes. Stereocilia are similar to cilia in size and shape, however they are immotile and more frequently found in the epithelium of the male reproductive tract, specifically in the ductus deferens and the epididymis. Embryonic connective tissue, derived from mesoderm, is the precursor to many connective tissues in the adult body. It is categorized into two subtypes: mesenchyme and mucous connective tissue. Mesenchyme is found within the embryo. Mesenchymal cells are spindle shaped with processes extending from either end. The cell processes connect to those of other mesenchymal cells through gap junctions. Very thin, scattered collagen fibers are present, but they are not particularly strong reflecting the limited stress placed on the tissues of the developing embryo. Elastic fibers are also thinner than collagen. They are strong but can be stretched up to 150% of their original length without breaking. When tension is released they are able to return to their original shape. Elastic fibers are found in skin, blood vessels and lung tissue.Wiesinger, H. P., Rieder, F., Kösters, A., Müller, E. & Seynnes, O. R. Are sport-specific profiles of tendon stiffness and cross-sectional area determined by structural or functional integrity? PLoS One 11, e0158441 (2016). Deringer, V. L., Caro, M. A. & Csányi, G. Machine learning interatomic potentials as emerging tools for materials science. Adv. Mater. 31, 1902765 (2019).