Final answer:
To identify connective tissue, assess the ground substance, fiber types, and cell presence. Loose and dense tissues vary by fiber arrangement, supportive tissues provide rigidity or flexibility, and fluid tissues contain cells within a liquid matrix.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics such as the type of fibers, the consistency of the ground substance, and the presence and arrangement of cells help identify the form and structure of connective tissue. Key identifying features include the ground substance which can range from a fluid to a rigid calcified matrix, the types of protein fibers such as collagen, elastic, or reticular fibers, and the various specialized cells like fibroblasts, adipocytes, or chondrocytes.
For instance, loose connective tissue has fibers that are loosely organized, leaving large spaces in between, while dense connective tissue contains tightly packed fibers for strength and elasticity. In contrast, supportive connective tissue such as bone and cartilage provide structure, with bone being highly vascularized and mineralized, and cartilage lacking blood vessels and being more flexible. Fluid connective tissue like blood and lymph host cells in a watery matrix with no fibers.