Which fiber type forms the supportive network in the spleen?

Which fiber type forms the supportive network in the spleen?

• A. Elastic fibers in muscle
• B. Reticular fibers in skin
• C. Elastic fibers in skin
• D. Reticular fibers in spleen

Answer: (D)

The spleen’s supportive framework is a delicate reticular connective tissue scaffold made of reticular fibers. These fibers are type III collagen produced by reticular cells and weave a branching mesh that supports the spleen’s parenchyma—the white pulp with lymphocytes and macrophages and the red pulp with blood-filled cords and sinusoids. This reticular network provides the structural support needed for cell interactions and filtration. Elastic fibers, by contrast, give tissues their elasticity (as in skin, arteries, and lungs) and do not form the primary scaffold in the spleen.

The spleen’s supportive framework is a delicate reticular connective tissue scaffold made of reticular fibers. These fibers are type III collagen produced by reticular cells and weave a branching mesh that supports the spleen’s parenchyma—the white pulp with lymphocytes and macrophages and the red pulp with blood-filled cords and sinusoids. This reticular network provides the structural support needed for cell interactions and filtration. Elastic fibers, by contrast, give tissues their elasticity (as in skin, arteries, and lungs) and do not form the primary scaffold in the spleen.