Circulatory System 16

In this specially-stained section of aorta, smooth muscle cells have the same purple-grey color as nuclei, whereas collagen and elastin fibers have a reddish-orange color. Note the large number of smooth muscle cells in the media of this elastic vessel and recall that, for the most part, the collagen and elastin are made by the smooth muscle cells, rather than by fibroblasts (which are relatively rare here). Feel free to move the field and/or change the magnification, but please return the microscope slide to the position in which you found it.

Slide K-16, field P9/P10 of finder slide A, 6.3X objective.