Fig. 2
From: Micromechanical and Ultrastructural Properties of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Reprinted from O’Connell et al. [21] with permission from Elsevier
Artistic rendering of 3D medial aortic microstructure demonstrating the concentric medial lamellar units consisting of parallel Elastic Lamellae (EL), perforated by Elastin Pores (EP) and interconnected by Elastin Struts (ES). The interlamellar zones contain smooth muscle cells whose elliptical nuclei (N) are orientated circumferentially and whose cytoplasm (Cyt) abuts interlamellar elastin fibres (black arrows), which transmit mechanical forces to the cells. Collagen fibres (white arrows) are adjacent to lamellar surfaces and are orientated predominantly circumferentially.