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In this photomicrograph of a muscular artery, the tunica intima is seen
as a thin dark line on the luminal side of the vessel (a). The tunica intima
is composed of an endothelial layer, the subendothelial connective tissue,
and the internal elastic lamina. The tunica media (b) is very thick and
consists of many layers of circularly disposed smooth muscle cells, whose
nuclei are readily identifiable. Numerous elastic fibers ramify through
the intercellular spaces between smooth muscle cells. The external elastic
lamina (c), which comprises the outermost part of the tunica media, is seen
easily. Finally, note the collagenous and elastic fibers of the tunica adventitia
(d), and the nerve denoted by (e). |
