what are elastic fibers
Elastic fibers are bundles of proteins found in extracellular matrix of connective tissue and produced by fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in arteries. These fibers can stretch up to 1.5 times their length, and snap back to their original length when relaxed. Elastic fibers include elastin, elaunin and oxytalan. Elastic tissue is classified as connective tissue proper. The elastic fiber is formed from the elastic microfibril and amorphous elastin. The microfibril scaffolds and organizes the