See Plates 152 and 153 to compare the structure of this rat aorta with those of rabbit and man.
Elastic arteries are subject to the greatest and most rapid changes in blood pressure.
The elastic membranes or laminae are separated from each other by smooth muscle fibers, fibroblasts, and collagenous and reticular connective tissue fibers. Note that the elastic laminae are unstained by the methods used here. Primarily located external to the outermost elastic lamina, it stains a bright blue with Mallory and Mallory-azan stains. Note the collagenous connective tissue immediately adjacent to the elastic laminae. The methods used here selectively stain collagenous fibers.