Colon (10x objective lens)

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This low magnification view of the colon shows: 1) the lumen containing fecal matter (Fe) composed predominately of coliform bacteria; 2) the mucosa (Mu), containing crypts of Lieberkuhn (Cr) and bounded by the muscularis mucosae (MM) composed of smooth muscle; 3) the folded submucosa (Su) containing aggregations of lymphoid cells (LC); 4) the muscularis externa (ME) consisting of an inner layer (IL) and an outer layer (OL) of smooth muscle separated by a thin layer of connective tissue (CT); and 5) the serosa (Se), consisting of a single layer of mesothelial cells, which covers the outer surface of the colon.

Stain = H&E

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Go to higher magnification of:					Return to Digestive System.	Return to the Table of Contents.
the mucosa	the muscularis mucosae	the submucosa	the muscularis externa	the serosa

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