Elastic and collagen fibers
Toluidine blue staining differentiates elastic and collagen fibers more dramatically than eosin. Elastic fibers stain dark blue, while collagen fibers are light blue. Note that smaller elastic fibers predominate in the upper region which is composed of loose connective tissue. Larger caliber fibers, both elastic and collagen, predominate in the dense connective tissue at the bottom. The elastic fibers present in both regions give the skin its distensibility while the collagen fibers provide tensile strength. Skin 1000x
Elastic fibers
Toluidine blue staining differentiates elastic and collagen fibers more dramatically than eosin. Elastic fibers stain dark blue, while collagen fibers are light blue. Note that smaller elastic fibers predominate in the upper region which is composed of loose connective tissue. Larger caliber fibers, both elastic and collagen, predominate in the dense connective tissue at the bottom. The elastic fibers present in both regions give the skin its distensibility while the collagen fibers provide tensile strength. Skin 1000x
Collagen fibers
Toluidine blue staining differentiates elastic and collagen fibers more dramatically than eosin. Elastic fibers stain dark blue, while collagen fibers are light blue. Note that smaller elastic fibers predominate in the upper region which is composed of loose connective tissue. Larger caliber fibers, both elastic and collagen, predominate in the dense connective tissue at the bottom. The elastic fibers present in both regions give the skin its distensibility while the collagen fibers provide tensile strength. Skin 1000x
Loose connective tissue
Toluidine blue staining differentiates elastic and collagen fibers more dramatically than eosin. Elastic fibers stain dark blue, while collagen fibers are light blue. Note that smaller elastic fibers predominate in the upper region which is composed of loose connective tissue. Larger caliber fibers, both elastic and collagen, predominate in the dense connective tissue at the bottom. The elastic fibers present in both regions give the skin its distensibility while the collagen fibers provide tensile strength. Skin 1000x
Dense connective tissue
Toluidine blue staining differentiates elastic and collagen fibers more dramatically than eosin. Elastic fibers stain dark blue, while collagen fibers are light blue. Note that smaller elastic fibers predominate in the upper region which is composed of loose connective tissue. Larger caliber fibers, both elastic and collagen, predominate in the dense connective tissue at the bottom. The elastic fibers present in both regions give the skin its distensibility while the collagen fibers provide tensile strength. Skin 1000x