Elastic Ligament-Ligamentum Flavum

Elastic ligaments are mostly bundles of thick , parallel elastic fibers. They are branched and connected with each other. Because of their yellow color, elastic bands are also called yellow bands—ligamenta flava. In humans, they are found at the spine. The neck ligament in hoofed animals, ligamentum nuchae, consists of elastic fibers.  This cross-section through the ligamentum flavum of the spine demonstrates the characteristic field pattern (patches). The elastic f ibers are arranged parallel to each other in bundles of different dimensions and run in the direction of the tensile force (pull). The collagen and reticular fibers (red)  are wrapped around the width of the elastic fibers (vertical to the elastic fiber axis). The connective tissue cells are not visible with this staining procedure .

Stain: van Gieson picric acid-fuchsin; magnification: × 360

Elastic Ligament—Ligamentum Flavum

This longitudinal section shows the network character of the elastic fibers.  The fibers permanently connect with each other in acute angles. Note the cellular connective tissue between the elastic fibers (stained blue), which corresponds to the red-stained fibers Fig. above .

Stain: methylene blue-eosin; magnification: × 130

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .