A 35-year-old male presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. His medical history includes multiple episodes of spontaneous arterial ruptures and a family history of early-onset vascular complications. Physical examination reveals thin, translucent skin with visible veins and hypermobility of the small joints. Genetic testing confirms a mutation in the COL3A1 gene. Which of the following best explains the underlying pathophysiology of this patient’s condition?
