Capillary Network-Lacrimal Gland

The capillary bed of an organ can be made visible using one of several injection techniques, and its three-dimensional structure can then be examined by scanning electron microscopy. In this instance, the arteries that go to the head of a cat were filled with a resin, which was allowed to harden at a defined temperature range. Organic materials were than removed using acid or alkaline solutions (maceration ). This procedure creates a corrosion preparation, which leaves the geometry of the capillaries intact.  This figure shows the dense capillary network in the lacrimal gland of a cat.  Note the branching of the larger arteries 1 . Veins 2 are visible in the bottom left of the figure. Differences in form and orientation of the endothelial cell nuclei, among other attributes, indicate whether a vessel is an artery or vein.

1 Arteries

2 Veins

Scanning electron microscopy; magnification: × 85

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .