Connective tissue: big unifying element of the organism

• Published in: Annales de chirurgie plastique et esthétique 2012-10, Vol.57 (5), p.507-514
• Main Author: Kapandji, A-I
• Format: Article
• Language: fre
• Subjects: Connective Tissue - anatomy & histology; Connective Tissue - physiology; Connective Tissue - ultrastructure; Fractals; Humans
• ISSN: 1768-319X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anplas.2012.07.007

The anatomical unity of the organism is realized by the connective tissue, which assumes five functions: the filling of the spaces between organs; the connexion between these organs; the driving of the vascular and nervous pedicles to these organs; the stocking of nutritive reserves in fat pads; an aesthetic role with hollows and bumps erasing. The space filling is done with jointed polyedric volumes, which are constituted, according to the theories of J.-C. Guimberteau, with microvacuoles, filled with under pressure fundamental substance. This is a status of preconstraint resulting in a form memory. So, the connective tissue under constraint get back its initial status after this constraint is over, according to the laws of a new science, the tensegrity. The explorations of the connective tissue with a 25× magnifying micro endoscopes are showing micro fibrillar structures, evoluting under constraint. Its arrangement, that seems chaotic, is in fractal disposition, in reality, and follows the "universal parcimony law" established by Williams of Ockham. The structure of the connective tissue can be integrated in a holistic conception of the organism. Many characteristics of this tissue have still to be discovered.