Each slide is shown with additional information to its right. The image can be changed using any combination of the following commands.
Sidebar
Click on links to move to a specific region.
Click on images to show that view.
Use the toolbar to change the magnification and pan the displayed image.
Mouse
Click to zoom-in
Double-click to zoom-out
Alt-click to zoom-out
Alt-double-click to zoom-out to the entire slide
Drag the image to pan
Keyboard
Shift or ‘A’ key to zoom-in
Ctrl or ‘Z’ Key to zoom-out
Arrow Keys to pan across the image
ESC key to zoom-out to the entire slide
Touch
Tap to zoom-in
Double-tap to zoom-out
Alt-tap to zoom-out to the entire slide
Drag the image to pan
SHARE
A link to a virtual slide can be saved for later viewing in different ways.
Clipboard
The address of this view has been copied to your clipboard. This link can be pasted in any other program.
Bookmark
A bookmark link can be created using the bookmark function (Ctrl-D for Windows or Cmd-D for Mac) of your browser. Choose a name for the bookmark and select the folder in which you want it saved.
Elastic arteries are large vessels that convey blood from the heart to systemic and pulmonary circulations. During the contraction phase of the cardiac cycle (systole), the higher pressure causes their walls to distend. During the relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle (diastole), the lower pressure causes their walls to deflate. This helps the movement of blood through the arteries.
This pumping action is possible because of the elastic tissue in the arterial wall. Elastin stains dark purple with aldehyde fuchsin.
Tunica Intima - inner layer composed of the endothelium and subendothelial connective tissue. This is the thinnest of the three layers in elastic arteries. The nuclei of endothelial cells bulge into the lumen. The internal elastic membrane is the innermost layer of elastic tissue (dark purple) in the arterial wall.
Tunica Media - middle layer composed of alternating layers of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle (unstained) and sheets of elastic tissue (dark purple). This is the thickest of the three layers in elastic arteries. The number of elastic lamellae is linked to blood pressure in the artery.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer of dense irregular connective tissue. This layer is usually less than half the thickness of the tunica media in elastic arteries.
The smooth muscle cells (not fibroblasts) are responsible for the synthesis and maintenance of collagen and elastic fibers of the tunica media.