Final answer:
Dense regular fibrous connective tissue, found in tendons and ligaments, is composed mostly of parallel collagen fibers offering tensile strength and resistance to stretching in one direction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of connective tissue that has a matrix composed almost entirely of parallel collagen fibers and is found in tendons and ligaments is called dense regular fibrous connective tissue. This tissue type is particularly adapted to provide strong, unidirectional tensile strength, which is why it is found in structures like tendons, which connect muscles to bones, and ligaments, which connect bones to other bones. Although ligaments have some parallel fibers, they may not be as uniformly parallel as those in tendons.
Dense regular connective tissue is characterized by the parallel arrangement of collagen fibers. This composition helps resist stretching in the direction of fiber orientation, making it ideal for bearing the tension exerted when muscles contract or joints move. In certain ligaments, such as the vocal folds and vertebrae, elastic fibers are included to allow these structures to return to their original length post-stretching.