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KMID : 0358819870140020141
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Journal of Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
1987 Volume.14 No. 2 p.141 ~ p.151
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF ELASTIC FIBERS OF BRACHIAL ARTERY IN HUMAN FETUS
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Choi Sung-An
Yang Soon-Jae
Park Chong-Sup
Choi Jae-Kwon
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Abstract
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Developmental process of the elastic fiber of the brachial artery in the human fetuses from 16 to 31 weeks of gestation was studied on tannic acid treated specimens by electron microscopy.
At 16 week, elastic fibers in the subendothelial layer of the artery appeared to be rather well developed comparing to the other layers. These fibers were mostly globular shape(0.2 ㎛ in diameter) in cross section and composed of homogeneosly dense central elastin material and peripheral microfibrils about 10 nm in diameter. They were arranged in 3 to 5 layers of 0.5-1 ㎛ thick and were partially fused with each other. The elastic fibers in media and in the region between media and adventitia wre few and sporadic and approximated closely to the developing smooth muscle cells.
At 21 weeks, subendothelial elastic fibers were mostly fused to form a thick lamina (about 15 ㎛ in thickness). This incomplete internal elastic lamina showed small bundles of microfibrils embedded in homogeneous elastin matrix and globular elastic fibers in the process of active incorporation into the lamina on its subendothelial side. Elastic fibers in the media and in the space between the media and the adventitia increased markdly in number and thickness closely associating with smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts.
At 31 weeksks, the internal elastic lamina was further developed and was thickned to about 2 ㎛. In the lamina, microfibrils in small bundles were mostly masked by homogeneous elastin material of the matrix. Incorporation of elastic fibers into the lamina were noted to be diminished although it was still seen in both subendothelial and muscular sides of the lamina. Elastic fibers both in the media and the boundary between media and adventitia were markedly increased in thickness and length, and showed irregular short laminal arrangement. The elastic fibers in the adventitia appeared to be more numerous and thicker than those in the media and arranged perpendicularly to the axis of the elastic fibers in the boundary between media and adventitia.
These results may suggest that development and fusion of elastic fibers in the subendothelial region of the artery were most active, resulting in the earlier formation of the internal elastic lamina than those of the other region of the artery. Elastic fibers were formed in close relation to the developing smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts.
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