Question

What is ECM?

Answer 1

ECM:

1. Living tissues are not just tightly packed cells. Much of a tissue's volume is made up of extracellular space.
2. This void is filled with a complex meshwork called the extracellular matrix.
3. The ECM is a dynamic, physiologically active component of all living tissues.
4. In addition to providing structural support for the cells embedded within a tissue, the extracellular matrix guides their division, growth, and development.
5. A few key ingredients of the ECM are water, fibrous proteins, and proteoglycans.
6. The main fibrous proteins that build the ECM are collagens, elastins, and laminins.