Final answer:
Dense connective tissue, rich in collagen fibers, grants the skin its remarkable tensile strength. This is due to the random orientation of fibers within this tissue, providing strength in multiple directions, along with elastin fibers for elasticity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dense connective tissue gives the skin much of its tensile strength. This type of connective tissue, particularly the dense irregular connective tissue found in the dermis of the skin, is rich in collagen fibers. These fibers provide a high degree of resistance to stretching by being arranged in a random orientation. This random distribution allows the tissue to have greater strength in multiple directions, which is crucial for skin that needs to be flexible yet durable. Additionally, the presence of elastin fibers gives the tissues elasticity, which is important for allowing the skin and other connective tissues, such as in arterial walls, to return to their original shape after being stretched.