Q.Areolar tissue, the loose connective tissue that fills the space between organs and attaches the skin to the underlying muscles, is composed mainly of

Step 1. Areolar tissue is classified as a loose connective tissue, meaning its cells and fibres are loosely, not densely, arranged within the matrix.

Step 2. Its matrix is semi-fluid, and it contains fibroblasts (which secrete the collagen and elastin fibres), along with macrophages and mast cells.

Step 3. Options (a) and (c) describe skeletal connective tissue (bone/cartilage), and option (d) describes fluid connective tissue (blood) — neither matches areolar tissue's composition.

Recall the defining matrix state (semi-fluid) and principal cell type (fibroblast) of loose connective tissue.

• Confusing areolar tissue's semi-fluid matrix with the calcified matrix of bone.
• Forgetting that fibroblasts, not osteocytes or chondrocytes, are the characteristic cell of loose connective tissue.