LM of elastic cartilage in the epiglottis of a child. A pale-staining perichondrium (Pe) encloses the cartilage externally. Pleomorphic chondrocytes (C) with small, dark nuclei occupy lacunae and are regularly arranged throughout the matrix (M). Because of cell shrinkage, lacunae appear as clear spaces around each chondrocyte. The matrix has a fibrillar appearance and consists of a network of elastic fibers that are dark violet because of selective staining by resorcin-fuchsin. 300×. Resorcin-fuchsin, nuclear fast red.