Artery and Vein

This preparation is from the submucosal tissue of the stomach. The micrograph shows cross-sections of a small artery (bottom right) and a vein. The epithelial cell nuclei of the tunica intima protrude into the vascular lumen and make the opening look like an eyelet 1 . Connective tissue dominates in the tunica media of the venous wall. In contrast, in the tunica me dia of the arterial wall circular smooth muscle bundles 2 are more prevalent. Folds of the tunica intima form the venous valves 3 , which extend into the venous lumen.

1 Endothelial cell nuclei

2 Circular musculature

3 Venous valve

4 Arteriole (longitudinal cut)

5 Arteriole (cut across the axis)

6 Connective tissue from the submucous coat (stomach)

Stain: alum hematoxylin-eosin; magnification: × 300

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 .