Dense regular connective tissue
{{Short description|Type of connective tissue in animals}}
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Dense regular connective tissue (DRCT) provides connection between different tissues in the human body. The collagen fibers in dense regular connective tissue are bundled in a parallel fashion. DRCT is divided into white fibrous connective tissue and yellow fibrous connective tissue, both of which occur in two forms: cord arrangement and sheath arrangement.{{cite web |last1=Stecco |first1=Carla |title=Dense Connective Tissue - an overview |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/dense-connective-tissue |access-date=19 October 2020 |website=Science Direct}}
In cord arrangement, bundles of collagen and matrix are distributed in regular alternate patterns. In sheath arrangement, collagen bundles and matrix are distributed in irregular patterns, sometimes in the form of a network. It is similar to areolar tissue, but in DRCT elastic fibers are completely absent.{{cite journal |last1=Nassari |first1=Sonya |last2=Duprez |first2=Delphine |last3=Fournier-Thibault |first3=Claire |date=23 March 2007 |title=Non-myogenic Contribution to Muscle Development and Homeostasis: The Role of Connective Tissues |journal=Front Cell Dev Biol |volume=5 |issue=22 |page=22 |doi=10.3389/fcell.2017.00022 |pmc=5362625 |pmid=28386539 |doi-access=free}}
Structures formed
- An example of their use is in tendons,{{cite web|url=http://www.pc.ctc.edu/hart/ctprop/dreg.html|title=Dense regular connective tissue|website=www.pc.ctc.edu|access-date=2009-10-16|archive-date=2009-09-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925085916/http://www.pc.ctc.edu/hart/ctprop/dreg.html|url-status=dead}} which connect muscle to bone and derive their strength from the regular, longitudinal arrangement of bundles of collagen fibers.
- Ligaments bind bone to bone and are similar in structure to tendons.{{Cite web |title=What Are Ligaments? |url=https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ligaments-types-injuries |access-date=2020-09-30 |website=WebMD |language=en}}
- Aponeuroses are layers of flat, broad tendons that join muscles and the body parts the muscles act upon, whether it be bone or muscle.{{Cite web|title=Aponeurosis|url=https://www.imaios.com/en/e-Anatomy/Anatomical-Parts/Aponeurosis|access-date=2020-09-30|website=IMAIOS|language=en}}
Functions
Dense regular connective tissue has great tensile strength that resists pulling forces especially well in one direction.
DRCT has a very poor blood supply, which is why damaged tendons and ligaments are slow to heal.