Figure 2.

(A) Hematoxylin and eosin–stained specimen (4x) demonstrating the elliptical shape of the xiphoid cartilage. Muscle and loose connective tissue surround the xiphoid. (B) Hematoxylin and eosin–stained control specimen (20x) demonstrating consistent chondrocytes with large oval nuclei, readily apparent nucleoli, and abundant cytoplasm. (C) Hematoxylin and eosin–stained injured specimen (60x) 24 hours after injury. Several of the chondrocytes demonstrate shrinkage, nuclear blebbing (arrows), chromatin condensation, and fragmentation with the liberation of numerous apoptotic bodies (arrowheads). Bar = 100 µm.