ABSTRACT
The behavior and function of a tissue is dictated by its composition and its architecture. The molecules present in the tissue combined with their arrangement in the tissue give it specific properties. This chapter reviews some biomacromolecules that are present in a wide range of tissues and then discusses how they contribute to the function of several types of tissues. It focuses on two types of organic molecules such as proteins and proteoglycans and one type of inorganic molecule biological mineral is calcium phosphate. The chapter discusses basic characteristics and then provides example that is important to tissue function and structure. Collagen is a major structural protein in vertebrates. It is the basic structural element in hard and soft tissues and is a major component of extracellular matrices. Minor collagens form structural links, like glue between major structural molecules. They connect different parts of tissues, from the basement membrane to upper layers.
