Histological studies on the common hepatic artery of sheep

Abstract

The present study was performed to illustration of common hepatic artery histological characteristics in six apparently healthy sheep. It was found that the common hepatic artery of sheep resembled microscopic features of a muscular artery. The endothelium of common hepatic artery rested on thin basement membrane. The subendothelial layer was very thin, the tunica media was composed smooth muscle cells interspersed with collagen and few scattered elastic fibers. The number of smooth muscle cell layers ranged from 25 to 30. The wavy external elastic lamina was broken and discontinuous. The tunica externa consisted of irregularly arranged connective tissue having collagen, elastic fibers and few fibroblasts which were intermingled.