Fig. 1:

Tendon tissue at different length scales, with various factors affecting its enzymatic degradation. (A) Collagen-I fibrils establish the architecture of the tissue. (B) Enzymatic degradation of collagen fibrils depends on conformation of collagen molecules (regulated by intermolecular cross-links between collagen molecules) as well as solution physicochemical factors including temperature, pH, and concentrations of any type of collagenase and collagenase inhibitors present in the tissue.