The fine structure of elastic fibers in the fibrous periosteum of the rat femur

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Abstract
The fine structure of the elastic fibers found in the fibrous periosteum of the albino rat femur has been described. Tissues were fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde and/or phosphate buffered osmic acid, embedded in Epon, stained with lead citrate and examined in an RCA EMU 3F microscope. The elastic fiber in the layer of fibrous periosteum is found to be composed of an array of longitudinally arranged elastofibrils embedded in a matrix of electron dense amorphous material. On cross section some of these elastofibrils appear to be tubular, presenting a dense cortex and a less dense central or core area. Reasons for these elastofibrils not being clearly and conclusively visualized in previous studies are discussed.