Connective Tissue: Adipose

White (unilocular) adipose tissue

#46 Skin, scalp, H&E

Lying deep to the dermis is the loose subcutaneous connective tissue layer (superficial fascia). The subcutaneous connective tissue may be composed largely of adipose tissue. Transilluminate the slide by holding it over a piece of white paper. The epithelium (epidermis) and dense, irregularly arranged connective tissue appear deeply stained. The adipose connective is the palely stained region. At higher magnification observe that the intracytoplasmic lipid has been extracted from the fat cells during the histological preparation of the tissue. The thin peripheral ring of cytoplasm and the flattened peripheral nucleus, coupled with the large central vacuole results in the "signet ring" appearance of fat cells. In white fat each cell contains a single fat droplet (unilocular).

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