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