ELASTIC FIBERS
There are many elastic fibers in the body, especiallly in places that are subject to movements and flexibility. The mesentery is one of them, since it follows the movement of the intestinal loops. This page provides two other significant examples.
The lung is stretched with each inhalation movement and returns to its original size after exhalation. This return movement results in great part to the richness of elastic fibers in the lung. The elastic fibers are stretched during inspiration and return to their shape during expiration.
The upper image is of a lung. Elastic fibers can be seen in the walls of a bronchiole and of pulmonary alveoli. They are very thin stained fibers.
The lower image is of a trachea that, like the lung and other extrapulmonary ducts, has many elastic fibers.
The lung is stretched with each inhalation movement and returns to its original size after exhalation. This return movement results in great part to the richness of elastic fibers in the lung. The elastic fibers are stretched during inspiration and return to their shape during expiration.
The upper image is of a lung. Elastic fibers can be seen in the walls of a bronchiole and of pulmonary alveoli. They are very thin stained fibers.
The lower image is of a trachea that, like the lung and other extrapulmonary ducts, has many elastic fibers.
Lung. Staining: Weigert. Medium magnification.
Trachea. Staining: Weigert. Medium magnification.