Oxytalan fibers

Elastin is typically considered as an amorphous protein consisting of random chain sequences connected by a helical regions. The elastin content varies in elastic fibers such as those found in skin. Elastic fibers are termed oxytalan fibers in the upper dermal layer of skin and they are termed elaunin fibers in the deeper dermis where their elastin content is higher. In vessel wall elastic fibers have recently been differentiated based on histological staining patterns suggesting that differences in mechanical properties of different vessel walls may in part be due to differences in elastin... 

Fig. 3.5 The periodontium. The periodontium consists of the gingiva and underlying periodontal membrane. Both are is composed of large bundles of collagen mixed with large and small oxytalan fibers that allow the periodontium to respond to violent movements of the tooth within the jaws during mastication...

The stroma within which the principal periodontal fibers are embedded is composed of proteoglycans within which are embedded oxytalan fibers (Sect. 3.1.3) whose elasticity is important (Sect. 3.1.3). Mini-oxytalan fibers surround blood vessels and are attached to... 

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