Question

In studying the four major tissue types, we used the term Fiber in connective, muscle, and nervous tissues. What does the term fiber refer to/mean in general, and what is it used to refer to in each of the three tissue types specifically?

Answer 1

Fibre is synthesized by fibroblasts and is a thread like proteinaceous structure which have different functions in different tissue types.

There are two main types of fibres; collagen fibres nad elstic fibres.

In connective tissue collagen fibres are abundant,they gives mechanical support to the tissue and has some role in inflammation.eg bone cartilages.

In muscular tissues,elastic fibres are abundant,they have elastic properties and properties to regain their shape.eg tendons

In neural tissue, nerve fibres are abundant which help in impulse transmission.

Some fibres may get modify to function in a different way;

Eg- reticulin fibres

They are synthesized by reticular cells