Cardiovascular System

Aorta, Monkey

This is an example of an elastic artery.

Note the three basic layers of the arterial wall :

• the tunica intima,
• the tunica media,
• the tunica adventitia.

The elastic fibres are stained bright pink.

There is no distinct internal or external lamina.

In the adventitia, note the presence of small blood vessels and fat cells.