American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

What type of collagen is considered the most common in wound healing?

1. Type 1 collagen

2. Type 2 collagen

3. Type 3 collagen

4. Type 4 collagen

The correct answer is: Type 1 collagen

Type 1 collagen is the most prevalent collagen type in wound healing. It is a key component of the extracellular matrix and provides the tensile strength required for the structural integrity of healed tissue. During the remodeling phase of wound healing, type 1 collagen is synthesized in greater quantities, replacing the initially laid down type 3 collagen, which is more common in the early inflammatory phase. Type 1 collagen is found in many tissues, including skin, tendons, and ligaments, making it essential for repair processes across various types of injuries. Its ability to form strong fibrils allows for effective wound closure and restoration of tissue strength. In contrast, type 3 collagen, while present during initial stages of wound healing, is typically replaced by type 1 collagen as healing progresses, and it doesn't provide the same tensile strength. Type 2 collagen is primarily found in cartilage and is not significantly involved in wound healing. Type 4 collagen is found in basement membranes and plays a role in the structural support of epithelial layers rather than in general wound healing.