Dense connective tissue, also called dense fibrous tissue, is a type of connective tissue with fibers as its main matrix element. The fibers are mainly composed of type I collagen. Crowded between the collagen fibers are rows of fibroblasts, fiber-forming cells, that generate the fibers. Dense connective tissue forms strong, rope-like structures such as tendons and ligaments. Tendons attach skeletal muscles to bones; ligaments connect bones to bones at joints. Ligaments are more stretchy and contain more elastic fibers than tendons. Dense connective tissue also make up the lower layers of the skin (dermis), where it is arranged in sheets.
Video Dense connective tissue
Classification
It is often divided into "Dense regular connective tissue" and "Dense irregular connective tissue".
Maps Dense connective tissue
See also
- Loose connective tissue
References
External links
- Anatomy photo: TermsCells&Tissues/connective/dense/dense1 - Comparative Organology at University of California, Davis - "Connective tissue, dense (LM, Low)"
- Histology at cytochemistry.net
- Overview at downstate.edu
Source of article : Wikipedia