Elastic artery (histological slide)

Histological description

Aorta longitudinally. This stain (Wiegert's resorcin-fuchsin) stains elastin dark purple. This will highlight the elastic membranes.

Aorta transversely

The wall of an elastic artery consists of three basic layers: Tunica intima , T. media , T. adventitia , examples of elastic arteries are large arteries (Aorta, A.subclavia, Arteria carotis communis and others.).

Tunica intima

Endothelium (single-layer squamous epithelium), lamina elastica interna.

Tunica media

In this layer, parallel arranged elastic membranes (light in HE staining) and layers of smooth muscle (dark) alternate, smooth muscle cells have a nucleus in the center (visible only at maximum magnification), lamina elastica externala is difficult to distinguish.

Tunica adventitia

It contains numerous vasa vasorum .

Links

Related articles

• Muscle artery (histological preparation, WRF)
• Muscular artery (histological slide, HE)
• Vein (histological slide, HE)

Bibliography

• MUDR. EIS, Václav – MUDR. JELÍNEK, Štěpán – MUDR. ŠPAČEK, Martin. Histopatologický atlas [online]. ©2006. [cit. 15.04.2010]. <http://histologie.lf3.cuni.cz/histologie/atlas/index.htm>.

• JUNQUIERA, L. Carlos – CARNEIRO, José – KELLEY, Robert O.. Základy histologie. 1. edition. Jinočany : H & H 1997, 1997. 502 pp. ISBN 80-85787-37-7.