MH 061-062 Popliteal Artery and Vein

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Click the thumbnail to show this specimen stained with hematoxylin & eosin.

Muscular Artery & Medium Vein
(H&E)

Example of a muscular (distributing) artery and its companion, medium vein.

- has a tunica intima with a prominent internal elastic lamina and tunica media with a prominent smooth muscle component.
- - 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.
- - middle layer composed mostly of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle.
- - outer layer composed of well-organized dense irregular connective tissue.
- the companion vein has less distinct layers than the artery.
- - inner layer composed of the endothelium, subendothelial connective tissue, and the internal elastic lamina. (The thick subendothelial layer is pathologic.)
- - middle layer of only a few layers of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle.
- - outer layer composed of dense irregular connective tissue connective tissue and scattered smooth muscle.

Click the thumbnail to show this specimen stained with Verhoeff stain.

Example of a muscular (distributing) artery and its companion, medium vein.

- has a tunica intima with a prominent internal elastic lamina and tunica media with a prominent smooth muscle component.
- - inner layer separated from the tunica media by a prominent, wavy internal elastics lamina.
- - middle layer with dispersed fragments of elastin and a prominent external elastic lamina.
- - outer layer with multiple layers of elastic tissue.
- the companion vein has less distinct layers than the artery.
- - inner layer separated from the tunic media by an internal elastic lamina. (The thick subendothelial layer is pathologic.)
- - middle layer with few scattered fragments of elastin.
- - outer layer with few scattered fragments of elastin.