A 28-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with sudden-onset abdominal pain and hypotension. She has a history of easy bruising, thin translucent skin, and recurrent arterial dissections. Her mother died at age 35 from an aortic rupture. Genetic testing confirms a COL3A1 mutation. Which of the following best describes the underlying defect in this condition?

By usmlevideoss