Arterial Constrictor-Special Type of Artery

Several special structures, such as bulging or lip-shaped prominences 1 can be found in the arterial circulator y system. These occur in most instance close to branching points. There are also constricting arteries, which feature prominences of longitudinal muscle cells at the luminal side of their circular musculature. These muscular prominences look like cushions (muscular tunica intima cushions). The star-shaped lumen owes its form to muscular intima cushions of different sizes 1 . Toward the outside of the vessel, follow several layers of ring muscles 2 , which are covered by strong muscle fibers in longitudinal direction 3 . The artery in this figure is from a human spermatic cord.

1 Muscular intima cushion

2 Ring muscle layer

3 Layer of longitudinal muscles

Stain: azan; magnification: × 80

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 .