This document discusses the three main types of fibers found in connective tissue: collagen fibers, reticular fibers, and elastic fibers. Collagen fibers are the most abundant, insoluble, and provide strength and flexibility. Reticular fibers form networks around cells and consist of type 3 collagen. Elastic fibers are highly elastic, stretchable, and appear yellow in color. They are found primarily in the lungs, skin, blood vessels and ligaments.

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2. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Connective tissue fibers
1.Collagen fibers
2.Reticular fibers
3.Elastic fibers
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3. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Collagen fibers
Most abundant in the body
Insoluble fibrous protein, forms the major
component of the extracellular matrix.
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4. Collagen fibers
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Colorless in fresh state
Very strong, flexible, inelastic with great
resistance to tension
Affected by weak acids and alkalies.
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5. Collagen fibers
LM:
Stains:
H&E: ACIDOPHILIC
Mallory’s trichrome: blue
Van giesson trichrome: green
SHAPE
Long, wavy , unbranched fibers and present in bundles
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
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6. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
EM:
Collagen fibers
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7. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Collagen fibers
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8. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Collagen fibers
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9. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Collagen fibers
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10. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Reticular fibers
It is very thin
They are in network like shape around the cells
Recently, it is recognized as aspecial form of collagen fibers
type 3.
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11. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Reticular fibers
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12. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Reticular fibers
Site
Stroma of the organs
Smooth muscles
Endoneurium
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13. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Highly elastic and stretchable in response to tension
Colorless in fresh state
Appear yellow in colour
They are stronge but less than collagen fibers
They are not affected by acids, alkalies, boiling
Destroy by elastase enzyme.
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14. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
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15. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Site
 Lung, skin, Urinary bladder
 Wall of the large arteries like Aorta
 Elastic ligaments like : ligamentum flavum,
ligamntum nuchae
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