Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why must nutrients and wastes pass through ground substance?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
connective tissue
Randomly oriented collagenous fibers of varying size in a thin spread of loose areolar connective tissue (magnified about 370 Γ).
All substances exchanged between cells and the blood must pass through the ground substance because it occupies the extracellular spaces where this transport occurs.12
As an amorphous, hydrated gel, the ground substance acts as the medium through which nutrients and waste products must travel to reach or leave tissue cells. Because it serves as the primary pathway for these materials, the composition and viscosity of the ground substance directly influence the efficiency of this exchange. Furthermore, connective tissue cells play a vital role in maintaining the conditions within this matrix to ensure that these metabolic exchanges can take place effectively.132