<p>Your connective tissue supports many different parts of your body, such as your skin, eyes, and heart. It is like a "cellular glue" that gives your body parts their shape and helps keep them strong. It also helps some of your tissues do their work. It is made of many kinds of proteins. Cartilage and fat are types of connective tissue.</p> <p>Over 200 disorders that impact connective tissue. There are different types:</p> <ul> <li>Genetic disorders, such as <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ehlersdanlossyndrome.html">Ehlers-Danlos syndrome</a>, <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/marfansyndrome.html">Marfan syndrome</a>, and <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/osteogenesisimperfecta.html">osteogenesis imperfecta</a></li> <li>Autoimmune disorders, such as <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lupus.html">lupus</a> and <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/scleroderma.html">scleroderma</a></li> <li>Cancers, like some types of <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/softtissuesarcoma.html">soft tissue sarcoma</a></li> </ul> <p>Each disorder has its own symptoms and needs different treatment.</p> <p class=""> NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases</p>