Final answer:
The ranking of connective tissues by density from least to most dense is Loose connective tissue, Dense regular connective tissue, Dense irregular connective tissue, Cartilage, and Bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
Connective tissues vary in density based on the composition and organization of their fibers and ground substance. The ranking of connective tissues by density from least to most dense is as follows: Loose connective tissue, Dense regular connective tissue, Dense irregular connective tissue, Cartilage, and Bone. Loose connective tissue, such as areolar tissue, contains fibers that are loosely packaged, leaving large spaces in between.
Dense regular connective tissue, found in tendons and ligaments, consists of collagen fibers aligned in parallel bundles, which enhances tensile strength and resistance to stretching in the direction of the fiber orientation. In contrast, dense irregular connective tissue has a mesh-like network of fibers that provides strength in various directions, as observed in organ capsules and artery walls. Cartilage, with its chondrocytes in a flexible matrix, and bone, with its highly vascularized and mineralized matrix, represent the denser forms of connective tissue.