Aorta - histology slide

The aorta is an elastic artery. Low power shows the entire thickness, with the intima above, the extensive media in the middle, and the outer adventitia. The intima is thin and stains palely. It is covered by a single layer of endothelial cells (not seen well). Most of the section is the eosinophilic media consisting of smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers (not stained with H&E).

Histology image descriptions and photography by Frank N. Miller, M.D.; histology image courtesy of Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.