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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Click the thumbnail to show this specimen stained with hematoxylin & eosin.
Muscular (or distributing) arteries convey blood from elastic arteries to the systemic circulation.
Compare H&E staining to that with Verhoeff and Azan.
Muscular Artery - the large muscular artery has a pathologic thickening of the tunica intima.
Tunica Intima - inner layer composed of the endothelium, subendothelial connective tissue, and a prominent internal elastic lamina (wavy band that is unstained or light pink).
Tunica Media - middle layer composed mostly of circumferentially arranged smooth muscle.
Medium Vein - the companion veins to arteries have a larger diameter and a thinner wall with less distinct layers.
Tunica Intima - inner layer composed of the endothelium, subendothelial connective tissue, and an internal elastic lamina.
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 containing longitudinal or spiral arrangements of smooth muscle.
Note the presence of other smaller muscular arteries and veins in this specimen.
Muscular Artery & Medium Vein (Verhoeff Stain)
Click the thumbnail to show this specimen stained with Verhoeff stain.
Muscular (or distributing) arteries convey blood from elastic arteries to the systemic circulation.
Compare Verhoeff staining to that with H&E and Azan. The staining of elastic tissue by Verhoeff highlights the internal and external elastic lamina.
Muscular Artery - the large muscular artery has a pathologic thickening of the tunica intima.
Tunica Intima - inner layer separated from the tunica media by a prominent, wavy internal elastic lamina.
Tunica Media - middle layer with dispersed fragments of elastin and a prominent external elastic lamina.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer with variable amounts of elastin depending on the size of the vessel. Large vessels have several layers while smaller vessels have none.
Medium Vein - the companion veins to arteries have a larger diameter and a thinner wall with less distinct layers.
Tunica Intima - inner layer separated from the tunic media by a thin internal elastic lamina in larger veins, but is absent in smaller veins.
Tunica Media - middle layer with dispersed fragments of elastin in larger veins, but absent in smaller veins.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer with dispersed fragments of elastin in larger veins, but absent in smaller veins.
Note the presence of other smaller muscular arteries and veins in this specimen.
Muscular Artery & Medium Vein (Azan)
Click the thumbnail to show this specimen stained with azan.
Muscular (or distributing) arteries convey blood from elastic arteries to the systemic circulation.
Compare Azan staining to that with H&E and Verhoeff. The staining of collagen by Azan highlights the tunica adventitia.
Muscular Artery - the large muscular artery has a pathologic thickening of the tunica intima.
Tunica Intima - inner layer is lightly stained because of the small amounts of collagen. (The internal elastic membrane is stained light pink.)
Tunica Media - middle layer has scattered staining of the collagen fibers that support the circumferentially arranged smooth muscle.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer is stained dark blue because of the collagen in the dense irregular connective tissue.
Medium Vein - the companion veins to arteries have a larger diameter and a thinner wall with less distinct layers.
Tunica Intima - inner layer is unstained (or lightly stained) because of the small amounts of collagen.
Tunica Media - middle layer is lightly stained because of the small amounts of collagen.
Tunica Adventitia - outer layer is stained dark blue because of the collagen in the dense irregular connective tissue.
Note the presence of other smaller muscular arteries and veins in this specimen.
