Dense regular connective tissue
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Dense regular connective tissue (DRCT) provides connection between different tissues in the human body. The collagen fibers in dense regular connective tissue are bundled in a parallel fashion. DRCT is divided into white fibrous connective tissue and yellow fibrous connective tissue, both of which occur in two forms: cord arrangement and sheath arrangement.[1]
In cord arrangement, bundles of collagen and matrix are distributed in regular alternate patterns. In sheath arrangement, collagen bundles and matrix are distributed in irregular patterns, sometimes in the form of a network. It is similar to areolar tissue, but in DRCT elastic fibers are completely absent.[2]
Structures formed
- An example of their use is in tendons,[3] which connect muscle to bone and derive their strength from the regular, longitudinal arrangement of bundles of collagen fibers.
- Ligaments bind bone to bone and are similar in structure to tendons.[4]
- Aponeuroses are layers of flat, broad tendons that join muscles and the body parts the muscles act upon, whether it be bone or muscle.[5]
Functions
Dense regular connective tissue has great tensile strength that resists pulling forces especially well in one direction.
DRCT has a very poor blood supply, which is why damaged tendons and ligaments are slow to heal.
References
- Science Direct. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- PMID 28386539.
- ^ "Dense regular connective tissue". www.pc.ctc.edu. Archived from the original on 2009-09-25. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
- ^ "What Are Ligaments?". WebMD. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
- ^ "Aponeurosis". IMAIOS. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
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