GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Each type of connective tissue in animals has a type of ECM: collagen fibers and bone mineral comprise the ECM of bone tissue; reticular fibers and ground substance comprise the ECM of loose connective tissue; and blood plasma is the ECM of blood.

Detailed explanation-2: -Extracellular matrix is composed of three main proteins, namely, collagen, non-collagen and proteoglycan. Collagen is the largest component of ECM protein in skeletal muscle.

Detailed explanation-3: -The ‘ground substance’ of extracellular matrix is an amorphous gelatinous material. It is transparent, colourless, and fills the spaces between fibres and cells. It actually consists of large molecules called glycosoaminoglycans (GAGs) which link together to form even larger molecules called proteoglycans.

Detailed explanation-4: -ECM is composed of both protein fibers (collagen, elastic, reticular fibers) and ground substance (glycosaminoglycans [GAGs], proteoglycans, and multiadhesive glycoproteins).