Page 378 - Handbook of Properties of Textile and Technical Fibres

Structure and behavior of collagen fibers 351

Figure 11.4 Structural hierarchy in the tendon. (a) This diagram illustrates the relationship
between collagen molecules, fibrils, fibers, fascicles, and tendon units. Although the diagram
does not show fibril subunits, collagen fibrils appear to be self-assembled from intermediates
integrated within the fibril termed microfibrils. (b) Scanning electron micrograph of a rat-tail
tendon fiber showing the fascicles (see asterisks) that make up the tendon unit. Tendons in
humans contain many fascicular units.