Which statement correctly matches collagen type to tissue distribution?

• A. Type II collagen is abundant in basement membranes.
• B. Type I collagen is abundant in skin, tendon, and bone.
• C. Type IV collagen is found in hyaline cartilage.
• D. Type III collagen is found primarily in hyaline cartilage.

Answer: (B)

Collagen types are distributed differently across tissues, and knowing where each type predominates helps explain tissue properties. Type I collagen is the major fibrillar collagen in skin, tendon, and bone, providing strong tensile strength and rigidity that these tissues require. Type II collagen is the primary component of cartilage, especially hyaline cartilage, giving it its resistance to compressive forces in joints. Type IV collagen forms the network of basement membranes that support epithelial and endothelial layers, not cartilage. Type III collagen is found in reticular fibers of many soft tissues, including skin and blood vessels, and is prominent in early wound healing, rather than in hyaline cartilage.

Therefore, the statement that Type I collagen is abundant in skin, tendon, and bone correctly matches the tissue distribution.