Study for the CAMLPR Histology Practice Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the Verhoeff's Van Gieson method and what are suitable control tissues?

Verhoeff's Van Gieson stain is used to visualize elastic fibers in tissue sections. The Verhoeff component stains elastic fibers black, providing a sharp contrast against the counterstain, which colors collagen pink and other tissue elements yellow. This makes the method specifically useful for identifying elastin networks rather than collagen, myelin, or glycogen. Suitable control tissues are those with abundant elastic fibers to confirm the staining pattern: lung tissue (elastic fibers in alveolar walls), arteries (elastic laminae), and skin (elastic fibers in the dermis).

Verhoeff's Van Gieson stain is used to visualize elastic fibers in tissue sections. The Verhoeff component stains elastic fibers black, providing a sharp contrast against the counterstain, which colors collagen pink and other tissue elements yellow. This makes the method specifically useful for identifying elastin networks rather than collagen, myelin, or glycogen. Suitable control tissues are those with abundant elastic fibers to confirm the staining pattern: lung tissue (elastic fibers in alveolar walls), arteries (elastic laminae), and skin (elastic fibers in the dermis).