Final answer:
Aside from collagen, the ECM includes elastin for elasticity, fibronectin for cell adhesion, proteoglycans for volume and turgidity, and laminins for structural support. These components work together to maintain tissue structure and facilitate cell communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Components of the Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
The ECM space is filled with various molecules aside from collagen. One of the key components is elastin, a protein that provides elasticity and allows tissues to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Another crucial molecule is fibronectin, which plays a significant role in cell adhesion, allowing cells to attach to the ECM and aiding in wound healing. Proteoglycans contribute substantial volume to the ECM and are involved in binding cations and water, which provides the ECM with its turgid nature. Laminins are another vital component, essential for the basement membrane formation and providing structural support.
These components interact with one another and with cells to maintain the structural integrity of tissues, to allow cells to communicate, and to contribute to tissue differentiation and development.