Support fabric
In anatomy, supporting tissue refers to the bones and cartilage . Above all, they have load-bearing (e.g. long tubular bones , vertebral bodies ) and also protective ( skull bones ) functions and are used for shaping (e.g. ear cartilage). Because of the close histological and embryological relationship, they are usually combined with the connective tissues as connective and supporting tissue .
In botany it is an important part of the architecture of the vascular plants ( cormophytes ), which is also referred to as strengthening tissue ( see also: conductive tissue ).