BACKGROUNDCollagen is the most abundantly present connective tissue. In higher animals, primarily as extracellular insoluble fibres and the fibres account for large part of organic mass of skin, tendon, blood vessel, bone teeth, cornea and vitreous humour. Collagen also provides the framework of parenchymal organs and basement membrane. The collagens constitute a family of proteins selected during evolution for the execution of several (mainly structural) functions. During the process of evolution of multicellular organisms, a family of structural proteins was selected by both environmental influences and the functional requirements of the animal organism and developed to acquire varying degrees of rigidity, elasticity and strength. These proteins are known collectively as collagen and the chief examples among its various types are present in the skin, bone, cartilage, smooth muscle and basal lamina. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body representing 30% of its dry weight. The collagens are produced by several cell types and are distinguishable by their molecular compositions, morphologic characteristics, distribution, functions and pathologies. More than 20 types of collagen have been identified and designated with Roman numerals; the most important of these are listed in Table 5-3. They are classified into the following four categories according to their structure and general functions.

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