The evolution and function of multicellular organisms has required tissue flexibility and the necessity to withstand stretch. These properties underpin movement and allow responses to changing environments. The elastic fibre is a bio-composite material composed of two insoluble extracellular matrix assemblies; fibrillin-rich microfibrils and elastin. Elastic fibres permit long-range deformability and recoil within dynamic tissues such as blood vessels, lungs, ligaments and skin.
Relation
Marfan Syndrome: A Primer for Clinicians and Scientists / Peter N. Robinson, Matthias Winzen (eds): pp.143-160