Final answer:
The skin's strength, form, and flexibility come from connective tissue fibers known as collagen and elastin, which are part of the dense irregular connective tissue of the dermis. Collagen provides strength, while elastin allows for elasticity. The correct answer is C) Connective tissue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skin gets its strength, form, and flexibility from connective tissue fibers within the dermis called collagen and elastin. These are vital components of the matrix that makes up the dermis layer of the skin. Collagen fibers give the skin its strength and firmness, preventing it from tearing easily. Elastin fibers, on the other hand, provide the skin with its elastic quality, allowing it to stretch and return to its original shape. Fibroblasts produce this interconnected mesh of collagen and elastin, which is part of the dense irregular connective tissue found in this layer.
Dense irregular connective tissue is characterized by fibers that are oriented in random directions. This unique arrangement contributes to the skin's ability to withstand stress from multiple directions. The layers of tissue are also designed to stretch by alternating layers where fibers run in the same orientation in each layer, which are then stacked at an angle, enhancing the skin's resilience.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'The skin gets its strength, form, and flexibility from __ fibers within dermis called collagen and elastin' is C) Connective tissue.