This example is a whole
mount of the mesentery stained with silver nitrate. The mesentery is a thin
sheet of connective tissue covered on both surfaces by a simple squamous epithelium
(mesothelium) of mesothelial cells. The silver
atoms are deposited along the borders of the cells
and outline the mesothelial cells in brown-black. At this magnification, only
part of one surface of the mesentery is in focus. At lower magnification,
both surfaces can be seen simultaneously, causing the mesothelial cells on
the upper surface to appear to overlap with those on the lower surface.
