What keeps the cells of multi cellular organisms stuck together?

Question

I remember from high school biology that cells form tissues and then from these tissues organs are created, etc.

However what’s not clear for me is: What stops a cell tissue from totally collapsing back to a clump of cells? Why animals, plants and even some fungi don’t just… Melt?

In: 7

Answer 1

IIRC this is one of the main reasons connective tissue diseases that damage collagen production have such broad systemic symptoms.