Which connective tissue type has collagen fibers arranged in parallel and contains fibroblasts?

Which connective tissue type has collagen fibers arranged in parallel and contains fibroblasts?

• A. Elastic connective tissue
• B. Dense irregular connective tissue
• C. Loose connective tissue
• D. Dense regular connective tissue

Answer: (D)

Parallel, tightly packed collagen fibers that run in the same direction provide high tensile strength in one axis, with fibroblasts interspersed to produce and maintain that collagen. This combination is the hallmark of dense regular connective tissue, which supports structures that endure unidirectional pulling forces, like tendons and ligaments. Elastic connective tissue would emphasize elastic fibers for stretch, not parallel collagen. Loose connective tissue has fewer fibers and more ground substance and cells, so it isn’t densely packed in one direction. Dense irregular connective tissue has densely packed collagen too, but the fibers are arranged in multiple directions to handle stress from various angles, not in parallel. So the tissue characterized by parallel collagen fibers and fibroblasts is dense regular connective tissue.

Parallel, tightly packed collagen fibers that run in the same direction provide high tensile strength in one axis, with fibroblasts interspersed to produce and maintain that collagen. This combination is the hallmark of dense regular connective tissue, which supports structures that endure unidirectional pulling forces, like tendons and ligaments.

Elastic connective tissue would emphasize elastic fibers for stretch, not parallel collagen. Loose connective tissue has fewer fibers and more ground substance and cells, so it isn’t densely packed in one direction. Dense irregular connective tissue has densely packed collagen too, but the fibers are arranged in multiple directions to handle stress from various angles, not in parallel.

So the tissue characterized by parallel collagen fibers and fibroblasts is dense regular connective tissue.