Final answer:
Healthy soft tissue characteristics include elasticity and the striated organization of muscle fibers. Supporting connective tissue also provides strength and protection to these tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of Healthy Soft Tissue
A characteristic of healthy soft tissue includes its elasticity, which allows tissue like muscle to stretch and rebound to its original shape. For instance, muscle tissue has the ability to lengthen as tension diminishes due to its elasticity. In addition to this, soft tissues like muscles are composed of striated muscle cells, particularly skeletal muscle, which display a characteristic alignment of parallel actin and myosin filaments that form a banded pattern, indicating a well-organized and functional structure.
Supporting connective tissue, such as bone and cartilage, plays a crucial role in providing strength, structure, and protection to the body's soft tissues. The matrix of bone, for example, is a rigid structure fortified with calcium salts, while cartilage can range from the tough fibrocartilage found in intervertebral discs to the stretchable elastic cartilage that allows for movement and flexibility.