Elastic fibers are a distinguishing feature of which tissue?

Elastic fibers are a distinguishing feature of which tissue?

• A. Elastic Cartilage
• B. Hyaline Cartilage
• C. Fibrocartilage
• D. Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Answer: (A)

Elastic fibers give tissues the ability to stretch and recoil. Elastic cartilage is distinguished by a matrix that contains abundant elastic fibers, which confer this flexibility and allow structures like the external ear and epiglottis to bend and return to shape. Hyaline cartilage has a glassy, type II collagen–rich matrix with few elastic fibers, so it’s not as flexible. Fibrocartilage is dominated by thick collagen fibers and is very tough and resistant to compression, not notably elastic. Dense regular connective tissue contains mostly parallel collagen fibers with little to no elastic fibers, so it lacks the elastic component seen in elastic cartilage.

Elastic fibers give tissues the ability to stretch and recoil. Elastic cartilage is distinguished by a matrix that contains abundant elastic fibers, which confer this flexibility and allow structures like the external ear and epiglottis to bend and return to shape. Hyaline cartilage has a glassy, type II collagen–rich matrix with few elastic fibers, so it’s not as flexible. Fibrocartilage is dominated by thick collagen fibers and is very tough and resistant to compression, not notably elastic. Dense regular connective tissue contains mostly parallel collagen fibers with little to no elastic fibers, so it lacks the elastic component seen in elastic cartilage.