13.1 POJA-L4643+4583+4595+4579+4707+4667
Title: Peripheral blood vessels: ultrastructure of intima-media
Description: The individual magnifications are irrelevant in the following strip of electron microscopic (EM) images. In a ‘bird’s-eye’ view the strip shows the most striking differences between the intima and media of different blood vessels.
(A): (POJA-L-4643). Capillary (region of main bronchus), EM, golden hamster. Erythrocyte in lumen which is lined by a thin cytoplasm of endothelium (arrow, 1). A pericyte (2) with slender processes embedded in a common basal lamina (3) envelopes the capillary. Thin nerve ramifications (4) and long slender processes of a perivascular fibroblast (5), collagen fibrils (6).
(B): (POJA-L-4583). Arteriole (bronchiolus area), EM, golden hamster. The smallest arteriole (contracted) shows a thin intima compared to the size of endothelial cells (2). The internal elastic lamina or IEL (1) is thin and discontinuous (fenestrae), and show several myoendothelial contact points (3). The media is composed of only one layer (4) of characteristic smooth muscle cells, attachments densities (arrow, 5). The adventitia consists of few collagen fibrils (6) and a slender network of long non-myelinated nerve processes (7) and cross-sectioned ones containing vesicles.
(C): (POJA-L-4595). Elastic artery (carotid artery), EM, rat. (1) Endothelium (1). Internal elastic lamina (2, IEL), (3) branched myocyte (SMC), (4) mixture of elastic tissue and collagen fibrils, with cross-sectioned collagen fibrils (dots). First elastic lamella (5) (compare with the IEL).
(D): (POJA-L-4579) (POJA-La-0295). Mid-sized muscular artery (branch of bronchial artery), EM, golden hamster. The intima is lined by an endothelial cell (1) with distinct Golgi area. Caveolae (3) and pinocytotic vesicles. (4) Thin basal lamina, distinct internal elastic lamina or IEL (6). The media consists of smooth muscle cells (SMC) with their characteristic filamentous sarcoplasm (7), focal attachment densities (9) and dense bodies (8).
(E): (POJA-L-4707). Small vein (muscle biopsy), EM, human. Lumen with erythrocytes (1), lining endothelium (2) with electron-dense granules (Weibel-Palade bodies) (3). The wall consists of few smooth muscle cells (4) embedded in basal lamina material. (5) Skeletal muscle cells.
(F): (POJA-L-4667). Mid-sized vein (biopsy of limb muscle), EM, human. Lumen (1), endothelial cell (2), cross-sectioned smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the intima (3), circular arranged SMC (4). Note that so-called longitudinal arranged muscle fibres often tend to course spirally (arrow, 5).
Keywords/Mesh: cardiovascular system, vascularisation, blood vessel, tunica media, capillary, arteriole , elastic artery , muscular artery, vein, Weibel-Palade body, electron microscopy, POJA collection
Title: Peripheral blood vessels: ultrastructure of intima-media
Description: The individual magnifications are irrelevant in the following strip of electron microscopic (EM) images. In a ‘bird’s-eye’ view the strip shows the most striking differences between the intima and media of different blood vessels.
(A): (POJA-L-4643). Capillary (region of main bronchus), EM, golden hamster. Erythrocyte in lumen which is lined by a thin cytoplasm of endothelium (arrow, 1). A pericyte (2) with slender processes embedded in a common basal lamina (3) envelopes the capillary. Thin nerve ramifications (4) and long slender processes of a perivascular fibroblast (5), collagen fibrils (6).
(B): (POJA-L-4583). Arteriole (bronchiolus area), EM, golden hamster. The smallest arteriole (contracted) shows a thin intima compared to the size of endothelial cells (2). The internal elastic lamina or IEL (1) is thin and discontinuous (fenestrae), and show several myoendothelial contact points (3). The media is composed of only one layer (4) of characteristic smooth muscle cells, attachments densities (arrow, 5). The adventitia consists of few collagen fibrils (6) and a slender network of long non-myelinated nerve processes (7) and cross-sectioned ones containing vesicles.
(C): (POJA-L-4595). Elastic artery (carotid artery), EM, rat. (1) Endothelium (1). Internal elastic lamina (2, IEL), (3) branched myocyte (SMC), (4) mixture of elastic tissue and collagen fibrils, with cross-sectioned collagen fibrils (dots). First elastic lamella (5) (compare with the IEL).
(D): (POJA-L-4579) (POJA-La-0295). Mid-sized muscular artery (branch of bronchial artery), EM, golden hamster. The intima is lined by an endothelial cell (1) with distinct Golgi area. Caveolae (3) and pinocytotic vesicles. (4) Thin basal lamina, distinct internal elastic lamina or IEL (6). The media consists of smooth muscle cells (SMC) with their characteristic filamentous sarcoplasm (7), focal attachment densities (9) and dense bodies (8).
(E): (POJA-L-4707). Small vein (muscle biopsy), EM, human. Lumen with erythrocytes (1), lining endothelium (2) with electron-dense granules (Weibel-Palade bodies) (3). The wall consists of few smooth muscle cells (4) embedded in basal lamina material. (5) Skeletal muscle cells.
(F): (POJA-L-4667). Mid-sized vein (biopsy of limb muscle), EM, human. Lumen (1), endothelial cell (2), cross-sectioned smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the intima (3), circular arranged SMC (4). Note that so-called longitudinal arranged muscle fibres often tend to course spirally (arrow, 5).
Keywords/Mesh: cardiovascular system, vascularisation, blood vessel, tunica media, capillary, arteriole , elastic artery , muscular artery, vein, Weibel-Palade body, electron microscopy, POJA collection