Which cell type is responsible for the production of areolar tissue, collagen and elastin, and can be damaged by UV light?

• A. Mast Cells
• B. Leucocytes
• C. Fibroblast Cells
• D. Histiocytes

Answer: (C)

Fibroblasts are the cells that build connective tissue by making the extracellular matrix, including collagen fibers for strength and elastin fibers for elasticity. In the dermis, they produce the loose network of fibers that forms areolar tissue and support skin structure. UV light can damage these cells, reducing their collagen production and increasing enzymes that break down collagen, which contributes to aging of the skin. The other cell types listed—mast cells, leucocytes, and histiocytes—are involved in immune responses and inflammation, not in producing the collagen and elastin that form areolar tissue, so they don’t fit the description.