Which component is responsible for making connective tissue flexible?

• A. Collagen Fibers
• B. Elastic Fibers
• C. Ground Substance
• D. Fibroblasts

Answer: (B)

The component responsible for making connective tissue flexible is elastic fibers. Elastic fibers are a type of protein fiber found in various connective tissues, particularly in structures that require elasticity and resilience, such as the skin, lungs, and blood vessels. These fibers allow tissues to stretch and then return to their original shape, contributing to the overall flexibility of the connective tissue.

Elastic fibers are composed of elastin, a protein that can extend and recoil, functioning like a rubber band. This property is crucial in maintaining the functional integrity of organs that undergo significant stretching, like the lungs during breathing or the arteries during blood flow.

While components like collagen fibers provide strength and structural support to connective tissues, they primarily contribute to tissue rigidity and tensile strength rather than flexibility. Ground substance, consisting of proteoglycans and glycoproteins, helps to support cells and fibers within connective tissue but does not provide the same level of flexibility as elastic fibers. Fibroblasts are the cells responsible for producing the fibers and ground substance but are not structural components that impart flexibility.