Slide DMS056 [External ear, human; Iodinated iron-hematoxylin (Verhoeff's elastic stain)]. This is a section of human external ear (pinna) especially stained to demonstrate elastic fibers. Using the diagram below as a guide, identify at low power epidermis and dermis with associated hair follicles, sebaceous glands and numerous blood vessels. Elastic fibers (previously studied) stain a deep magenta or blackish purple.

A segment of elastic cartilage occupies the central part of the section. It has basically the same structure as hyaline cartilage, except the matrix contains a much greater abundance of elastic fibers (magenta staining here).