Artwork representing collagen fibres. They are found throughout the connective tissue which provides structural and metabolic support for other tissues and organs throughout the body. In the fresh state they are soft, flexible, with a high tensile strength and relatively inextensible. Due to these properties they form the mechanical support in the dermis of the skin, the deep fascia of muscles and dura mater of the brain. The individual fibres are 1-12 micrometers in diameter and each one is composed of finer parallel fibres 0.3-0.5 micrometers in diameter.