The overall color of the tissue is pinkish due to the large numbers of collagen fibers . This preparation has also been stained to show elastic fibers . Many of them have been broken at their ends and have recoiled. Do not attempt to identify cell types on this slide. The nuclei of the various cells are stained but distinguishing the different cell types is too difficult on this slide.
Ground substance is lost during tissue preparation and is represented by empty space.
Sectioned material Loose connective tissue . Loose connective tissue, more richly cellular and vascular than other connective tissues, is seen in sectioned and stained preparations throughout your slide box. Use both high dry and oil immersion objectives to study cell types. Keep in mind for later labs that in the GI tract a muscle layer will be included as part of mucosa. Spindle Shaped fibroblasts can be seen in the lamina propria.