Dense Regular Connective Tissue – Tutorial
Please read Unit 2 – Introduction to Connective Tissues prior to completing the activities in this chapter.
Introduction to Dense Regular Connective Tissue
Dense regular connective tissue is a type of connective tissue proper with a matrix containing densely packed, parallel-oriented collagen fibers that fill nearly all the extracellular space. Widely spaced fibroblasts are the primary cell type found in dense irregular connective tissue and they secrete proteins that assemble to form collagen fibers.
Since the extracellular matrix is packed with strong yet flexible collagen fibers in a regular arrangement (all oriented parallel to each other) it allows dense regular connective tissue to act like a cable and transfer forces in the same direction as the collagen fibers are oriented. In the human body, dense regular connective tissue forms tendons, which anchor muscle to bone, and ligaments, which anchor bones together. Dense regular connective tissue also forms the connective tissue wrappings associated with skeletal muscle (epimysium, perimysium, endomysium) and aponeuroses which are broad tendinous sheets that anchor muscle.
