Figure 1. Light microscopic histology with hematoxylin and eosin of normal rat dermal wound healing. New epithelium (A1) is being laid down as early as day 1 after wounding (A). Neovessels (A4) and dilated existing vessels (A5) can be visualized in provisional fibrin matrix. Skeletal muscle cells (A2) form a border zone (A3) between normal and wounded tissue. By day 4 (B), the epithelial layer (B6) is complete and granulation tissue (B7) has matured. The granulation tissue starts to contract (C8) by day 6 (C). Scar tissue is visible by day 8 (D9) and the remnants of granulation tissue (D10) have moved down to the base of the wound.