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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This is a longitudinal section of a large vein with valves. It was stained with Masson's trichrome which produces red muscle fibers, blue collagen, light red or pink cytoplasm, and dark brown to black nuclei.
A valve consists of a fold (i.e., cusp or leaflet) of the tunica intima which extend into the lumen of the vessel. In this example, two open leaflets are shown along with a third leaflet whose openining is not within the plane of the section.
Blood pushes the the leaflets open as it moves towards the heart. If gravity or muscle contractions try to pull the blood backward, the cusps are pushed together preventing bsckward flow.