Collagen hereditary link. Collagen is one of the long, fibrous structural proteins whose functions are quite different from those of globular proteins, such as enzymes. Tough bundles of collagen called "collagen fibers" are a major component of the extracellular matrix that supports most tissues and gives cells structure from the outside, but collagen is also found inside certain cells. Collagen has great tensile strength, and is the main component of fascia, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and skin. Along with elastin and soft keratin, it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. It
Reticular connective tissue Reticular connective tissue Reticular connective tissue is a type of connective tissue with a network of reticular fibers, made of type III collagen ("reticulum" = net or network). Reticular fibers are not unique to reticular connective tissue, but only in this type are they dominant. Reticular fibers are synthesized by special fibroblasts called reticular cells. The fibers are thin branching structures. Reticular connective tissue is found around the kidney, the spleen, and lymph nodes, Peyer's patches as well as in bone marrow. The fibers form a soft skeleton (stroma) to support the lymphoid organs (lymph node stromal cells, red bone