Faculty/Retired
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.
Professor Emeritus
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 065-066 Aorta and Vena Cava
Click the thumbnail to show elastic artery and large vein stained with hematoxylin & eosin.
Elastic Artery & Large Vein (H&E)
Compare the features of the artery with its companion vein.
- an elastic artery. The tunica media is the thickest layer and contains prominent elastic tissue.
- inner layer composed of the endothelium, subendothelial connective tissue and a thin layer of elastic fibrils (the internal elastic
membrane).
- middle layer composed of alternating layers of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle and wavy sheets of elastic fibers.
- outer layer of dense irregular connective tissue.
- blood vessels that supply the tunica adventitia and tunica media.
- regulate the contraction of the smooth muscle.
- a large vein. The wall is thinner and has less distinct layers than the aorta.
- inner layer composed of endothelium and a thin layer of connective tissue.
- middle layer consists of only a few (3 to 8) layers of smooth muscle.
- outer layer of dense irregular connective tissue containing longitudinal or spiral arrangements of and smooth muscle.
- blood vessels that supply the tunica adventitia and tunica media.
- regulate the contraction of the smooth muscle.
- common in the adventitia of veins.
Click the thumbnail to show elastic artery and large vein stained with Verhoeff stain.
Elastic Artery & Large Vein (Verhoeff Stain)
These are the same specimens except they were stained with Verhoeff. Although unstained with H&E, elastic tissue stains black with Verhoeff.
Compare the features of the artery with its companion vein.
- an elastic artery. Prominent elastic tissue occurs in a thick tunica media.
- inner layer with scattered elastic fibrils (black) in the subendothelial connective tissue.
- middle layer composed of alternating layers of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle (unstained) and wavy sheets of elastic fibers
(black).
- outer layer with none or scattered elastic fibrils (black).
- a large vein. Very little elastic tissue occurs in the wall of veins.
