Smooth muscle, longitudinal and cross sections (40x objective lens)


Smooth muscle from the muscularis externa of the small intestine, cut in cross section (upper half of image) and longitudinal section (lower half of image). Note diagonal arrangement of the elongated, light-stained nuclei that are characteristic of smooth muscle in longitudinal section. In cross section, note that nuclei are not seen in every cell and that the diameter of the cells is not much greater than the diameter of their nuclei.

Stain = H&E.


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The University of Oklahoma

Version: 001206