Question

What is called collagen or elastin?

Answer 1

Collagenous fibres are the most abundant fibrous elements of the body out of any other connective tissues. These are long unbranched fibres of a soluble and shining collagen protein. These fibres are most stressful and provide maximum tensile strength. These are colourless and shiny, yet called white fibres to distinguish them from yellow elastin fibres.

Collagen protein is the most abundant protein of the body which constitutes about 25% of the total body protein. Collagen fibres can be stained by the eosin.

Yellow elastin fibres are formed of elastin proteins, these fibres are less numerous, thinner, branched, and of a pale yellow colour. These are very elastic and remain straight due to tension in the area.

Elastin is probably the most resistant of all body proteins to chemical changes. Thousand of years old mummies still have their arteries intact and they are well preserved due to elastin.