What are the three major kinds of fibers in connective tissue?

In the study of anatomy, the fibrous components of connective tissue are categorized into three major types:

• Collagenous fibers: These are the most abundant fibers in connective tissue and are composed of the protein collagen. They typically appear as bundles of smaller fibrils and provide significant structural support and tensile strength to tissues.1
• Elastic fibers: Composed of the protein elastin, these fibers are highly distensible. Unlike collagenous fibers, they can branch to form extensive networks and possess the ability to recoil like rubber bands when stretched.1
• Reticular fibers: These fibers form fine-meshed networks around cells and various organs. While they were once thought to be made of a unique protein called reticulin, electron microscopy has shown that they are actually composed of thin fascicles of collagen fibrils. Their distinct staining properties, such as their ability to turn black when treated with silver salts, result from how these fibrils are associated and bound together.12