Our body is made up of different kinds of elements. The inner structure is formed by a skeleton covered with muscles and then the skin. This is the simplest description of our body.
Key Takeaways
- Collagen provides structural support to the skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments, while elastin provides elasticity and flexibility to the skin and blood vessels.
- Collagen is mostly found in connective tissues, while elastin is located in the tissues that need to stretch and recoil, like lungs, blood vessels, and skin.
- Collagen production decreases with age, leading to wrinkles and joint pain, while elastin production remains constant throughout life.
Collagen vs Elastin
Collagen and elastin are essential proteins found in connective tissues, providing strength and elasticity to the skin, ligaments, and blood vessels. Collagen offers structural support and rigidity, whereas elastin allows tissues to stretch and return to their original shape. As we age, both proteins decrease, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
Collagen is the protein secreted by our body to strengthen the muscles. It is abundantly formed when our muscles get injured or tears up due to intense workouts.
Elastin is the protein produced by our body to provide elasticity to the muscles. This protein is abundantly produced during the fetal stage of an organism.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Collagen | Elastin |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Main protein found in connective tissues | Protein found in elastic-connective tissues |
| Color | White color protein | Yellow color protein |
| Found in | Skin, blood vessels, bones, etc | Blood vessels, skin, etc. |
| Produced during | Throughout the lifetime of humans | Abundantly produced during the fetus period and stops after puberty. |
| Function | Provides strength to the muscles | Provides elasticity to the muscles |
What is Collagen?
Collagen is the protein secreted by our body to strengthen the muscles. It is abundantly formed when our muscles get injured or tears up due to intense workouts.
It is the main protein that is found in ligaments, bones, tendons, etc. It helps to join bone to bone and other parts together. It is very strong and less flexible.
Vitamin A, vitamin C, and copper are very important for the production of collagen in the body. Collagen is produced in the body throughout the life cycle of a human being.
So we need to follow a balanced diet and do regular exercises to maintain the balance of nutrients. Intense workouts lead to breakage and tear in the muscles.
What is Elastin?
Elastin is the protein produced by our body to provide elasticity to the muscles. This protein is abundantly produced during the fetal stage of an organism.
Elastin is less abundant in our body as compared t collagen. But it is found in excessive amounts in the fetus stage, as at that time of development of a body, and elasticity is very needed for the formation of cells.
For example, the increase in height, stronger muscle development in males, etc., all need a huge amount of elastin.
Decreased amount of elastin leads to wrinkles and a leathery look to the skin. It is mainly found in blood vessels and skin. The amount of elastin reduces as we grow old.
Main Differences Between Collagen and Elastin
- The protein called collagen is produced throughout the lifetime of humans. On the other hand, a protein called elastin is abundantly produced during the fetus period and stops after puberty.
- Collagen provides strength to the muscles, whereas elastin provides elasticity to the muscles.
- https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.biochem.77.032207.120833
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065323305700139
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
