ELASTIC FIBERS
There are many elastic fibers throughout the body, especially in tissues that undergo repeated stretching and need to return to their original shape. The mesentery is one example because it moves with the stomach and intestinal loops. The lung and trachea provide two other important examples. This page provides two other significant examples.
The lung is stretched during each inspiration and returns toward its original size during expiration. This elastic recoil is largely due to the abundance of elastic fibers in the lung tissue. These fibers stretch during inspiration and recoil during expiration, helping the lungs return to their resting shape.
In the upper image, observe the elastic fibers in the walls of a bronchiole and around the lung alveoli. They appear as very thin, stained fibers.
The lower image shows the trachea. Like the lung and other airways outside the lungs, the trachea contains many elastic fibers, which contribute to the flexibility and resilience of its walls.
The lung is stretched during each inspiration and returns toward its original size during expiration. This elastic recoil is largely due to the abundance of elastic fibers in the lung tissue. These fibers stretch during inspiration and recoil during expiration, helping the lungs return to their resting shape.
In the upper image, observe the elastic fibers in the walls of a bronchiole and around the lung alveoli. They appear as very thin, stained fibers.
The lower image shows the trachea. Like the lung and other airways outside the lungs, the trachea contains many elastic fibers, which contribute to the flexibility and resilience of its walls.
Lung. Staining: Weigert. Medium magnification.
Trachea. Staining: Weigert. Medium magnification.