dense connective tissue

{{Short description|Type of connective tissue in animals}}

{{Infobox microanatomy

| Name = Dense connective tissue

| Latin = textus connectivus compactus

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Dense connective tissue, also called dense fibrous tissue, is a type of connective tissue with fibers as its main matrix element.{{cite web |url=http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/ |title=Blue Histology |access-date=2009-10-16}} The fibers are mainly composed of type I collagen. Crowded between the collagen fibers are rows of fibroblasts, fiber-forming cells, that generate the fibers. Dense connective tissue forms strong, rope-like structures such as tendons and ligaments. Tendons attach skeletal muscles to bones; ligaments connect bones to bones at joints. Ligaments are more stretchy and contain more elastic fibers than tendons. Dense connective tissue also make up the lower layers of the skin (dermis), where it is arranged in sheets.{{cite book |author=Marieb, Elaine N. |title=Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology - 10th ed. |publisher=Pearson Education |location=San Francisco, Ca. |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-321-69598-7 |page=96}} In addition, the sclera contains dense connective tissue{{Citation |last=Pradeep |first=Tejus |title=Histology, Eye |date=2023 |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544343/ |work=StatPearls |access-date=2023-11-11 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=31335063 |last2=Mehra |first2=Divy |last3=Le |first3=Patrick H.}}