LUMEN:

Larger than artery, irregular in

shape

TI: Simple squamous endothelium cell

layer in connective tissue

TM: Thinner and collapse mainly smooth

muscle

-no elastic fibres

TA: Connective tissue, few elastic fibres and longitudinal smooth muscle

Why do you think the elastic fibres form lamellae in the wall of large arteries?

Elastic lamellae are found in the tunica media of the aorta. The energy stored in the elastic

fibres of the tunica media allows elastic arteries to function as a "pressure reservoir" which

forwards blood during ventricular relaxation (diastole) and maintains a constant flow of

blood.


Can you locate any valves in any of the veins in your section? Why might they be difficult

to see?

It is difficult to see unless it is particularly prepared

to see the valve because it might not be cut into half

in transverse/cross section and it is also not located

in all wall of blood vessel.

4. Muscle is yellow/green, elastic lamina is purple and collagen is blue. (stain = aldehyde

fuchsin + haematoxylin)

a) Muscular artery compared to the medium vein.

MA:

TI: Endothelium, Internal

elastic membrane,

connective tissue

TM: thick smooth

muscle, elastic lamella

TA: Collagen,elastic

fibres and fibroblast

MV:

TI: Endothelium, Internal elastic membrane, connective tissue

TM: thick smooth muscle, collagen,

TA: Connective tissue, few elastic fibres

b) Draw and label a transverse section through the wall of a muscular artery to show the

wall layers.

c) Deep venous thrombosis (DVT), blood clot formation, occurs more often in the medium

veins of the lower limbs than other vessels. Why is this? Discuss with your colleagues.

Blood flow through the leg veins generally requires some mechanical help, since it 'flows' up

instead of down. Working calf muscles act as a pump. The contracting muscles compress the

veins and force the blood in these veins upwards to the heart. This process is aided by

valves in the veins, which direct the flow of blood and counteract the effects of gravity.


Anything that slows the flow of blood through the deep veins can cause DVT. This includes

injury, surgery or long periods of sitting or lying.

5. Slide Yellow 13 Fig. 13.18b, Plate 35

locate an arteriole and a venule. They will be located in the connective tissue which

surrounds the larger vessels and the peripheral nerve profile in your section.

How did you identify these vessels as arteriole/venule and NOT as artery/vein or as

capillaries?

6. Capillaries, arterioles and venules in the connective tissue directly under the

epithelium.