Extracellular Matrix in Vertebrates There are two major components of ECM, namely fibers and ground substance.

Interstitial matrix : is the intercellular space, the space that remains between some cells and others within a tissue. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an intricate network composed of an array of multidomain macromolecules organized in a cell/tissue-specific manner. The extracellular matrix of the human body includes: 1. Review this cell biology concept through the lesson titled Extracellular Matrix: Function, Components & Definition. suspension of macromolecules that supports everything from local tissue growth to the maintenance of an entire organ

2. In biology, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a three-dimensional network of extracellular macromolecules, such as collagen, enzymes, and glycoproteins, that provide structural and biochemical support to surrounding cells. It provides a substrate for cell anchorage, serves as a tissue scaffold, guides cell migration during embryonic development and wound repair, and has a key role in tissue morphogenesis. Components of the ECM link together to form a structurally stable composite, contributing to the mechanical properties of tissues.

The fibers are again divided into two functional categories―structural fibers and adhesive fibers. Because multicellularity evolved independently in different multicellular lineages, the composition of ECM varies between multicellular structures; however, cell adhesion, cell-to-cell communication and differentiation are common functions of the ECM. Collectively, these materials are called the extracellular matrix (Figure 1). The extracellular matrix provides the physical microenvironment in which cells exist. Living tissues are not just accumulations of tightly packed cells. Rather than being inert filler material, like the Styrofoam packing around a shipment of glassware, the extracellular matrix is a dynamic, physiologically active com… Much of a tissue's volume is made up of extracellular space ('extra-' meaning 'outside' or 'beyond,' as in 'extraterrestrial'). In most connective tissues, the matrix constituents are secreted principally by fibroblasts but in certain specialized types of connective tissues, such as cartilage and bone, these components are secreted by chondroblasts and osteoblasts, respectively. The ground substance mostly consists of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, … Extracellular Matrix of Animal Cells. Most animal cells release materials into the extracellular space. The primary components of these materials are glycoproteins and the protein collagen. It is occupied by a kind of aqueous gel of polysaccharides and fibrous proteins , together with other molecules dispersed in it, such as electrolytes, enzymes and chemical transmitters. This void is filled with a complex meshwork called the extracellular matrix.