Page 190 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

Type I most common and very strong; found in skin, tendons, ligaments, and
bone
Type II found in hyaline and elastic cartilage and the vitreous body of the

eye; provide resistance to pressure
Type III forms meshwork in liver, lymph node, spleen, and hematopoietic
organs
Type IV found in basal lamina of basement membrane; associated with

hemidesmosomes

RETICULAR FIBERS

Consist mainly of type III collagen; form delicate netlike framework in
different organs
Visible only when stained with silver stain

ELASTIC FIBERS

Thin, branching fibers that allow stretch

Composed of microfibrils and the protein elastin
After stretching, return (recoil) to original size without deformation
Found in the lungs, bladder, skin, and walls of large blood vessels

In large blood vessel walls, smooth muscle synthesizes elastic fibers

GROUND SUBSTANCE AND

CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Consists of extracellular matrix, a semifluid gel with high water content

Matrix binds, supports, and surrounds cells and fibers
Contains polysaccharide chains of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and
adhesive glycoproteins
Hyaluronic acid is the main glycosaminoglycan

Other glycosaminoglycans form proteoglycan aggregates, which attract water

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