In the structure of a muscle, several fascicles lie bundled together to forma muscle, just as several lie together to form compact bone tissue. Each muscle fiber, which is a muscle cell, consist of protein fibers. Similary, the matrix that lies outside bone cells consists of a protein fiber called

Collagen is a protein fiber that is found in the matrix that lies outside the bone cells. Population of these collagen fibers that scattered through the matrix are embedded in a gel-like ground substance called hyaline cartilage, which is flexible but avascular and contains no nerves or blood vessels.