TY - CHAP AU - Elena Vecino AU - Jessica C. F. Kwok ED - Francesco Travascio Y1 - 2016-06-15 PY - 2016 T1 - The Extracellular Matrix in the Nervous System: The Good and the Bad Aspects N2 - The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an ensemble of non-cellular components present within all tissues and organs of the human body. The ECM provides structural support for scaffolding cellular constituents and biochemical and biomechanical support for those events leading to tissue morphogenesis, differentiation and homeostasis. Essential components of all ECMs are water, proteins and polysaccharides. However, their composition, architecture and bioactivity greatly vary from tissue to tissue in relation to the specific role the ECM is required to assume. This book overviews the role of the ECM in different tissues and organs of the human body. BT - Composition and Function of the Extracellular Matrix in the Human Body SP - Ch. 5 UR - https://doi.org/10.5772/62527 DO - 10.5772/62527 SN - 978-953-51-2416-0 PB - IntechOpen CY - Rijeka Y2 - 2024-03-29 ER -