T. Clark Brelje, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Robert L. Sorenson, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
6-160 Jackson Hall
321 Church St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
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MH 061-062 Popliteal Artery and Vein
Muscular Artery & Medium Vein (H&E)
Click the thumbnail to show this specimen stained with hematoxylin & eosin.
Example of a muscular (distributing) artery and its companion, medium vein.
Compare H&E staining to that with Verhoeff.
Muscular Artery - has a tunica intima with a prominent internal elastic lamina and tunica media with a prominent smooth muscle component.
Tunica Intima - inner layer composed of the endothelium, subendothelial connective tissue, and a prominent internal elastic lamina. The internal elastic lamina appears as a wavy band that stains a translucent pink.
Tunica Media - middle layer composed mostly of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle.
Medium Vein - the companion vein has less distinct layers than the artery.
Tunica Intima - inner layer composed of the endothelium, subendothelial connective tissue, and the internal elastic lamina. (The thick subendothelial layer is pathologic.)
Tunica Media - middle layer of only a few layers of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer composed of dense irregular connective tissue connective tissue and scattered smooth muscle.
Muscular Artery & Medium Vein (Verhoeff Stain)
Click the thumbnail to show this specimen stained with Verhoeff stain.
Example of a muscular (distributing) artery and its companion, medium vein.
Compare Verhoeff staining to that with H&E.
Muscular Artery - has a tunica intima with a prominent internal elastic lamina and tunica media with a prominent smooth muscle component.
Tunica Intima - inner layer separated from the tunica media by a prominent, wavy internal elastics lamina.
Tunica Media - middle layer with dispersed fragments of elastin and a prominent external elastic lamina.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer with multiple layers of elastic tissue.
Medium Vein - the companion vein has less distinct layers than the artery.
Tunica Intima - inner layer separated from the tunic media by an internal elastic lamina. (The thick subendothelial layer is pathologic.)
Tunica Media - middle layer with few scattered fragments of elastin.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer with few scattered fragments of elastin.
