4.2 lab - connective tissue

Question 1

will a correct exam answer choice ever be “fat” or “adipocyte” ?

Answer 1

no - must always specify unilocular vs multilocular

Question 2

T/F all fibers stain eosinophilic

Answer 2

mostly true. must use special stains to bring out reticular (silver) and elastic fibers (vaerhoeff’s)

Question 3

loose vs dense irregular connective tissue, which will likely have deeper eosinophilic stain?

Answer 3

dense - more eosinophilic fibers

Question 4

explain the occasional appearance of an island of loose connective tissue within the epithelial epidermal layer of the skin

Answer 4

plane of section

Question 5

what is one place that loose and dense irregular connective tissue appear side-by-side?

Answer 5

skin

Question 6

papillary dermis

Answer 6

layer of looser connective tissue in skin (immediately below epidermis, superficial to reticular dermis)

Question 7

reticular dermis

Answer 7

layer of denser connective tissue in skin (below both epidermis and papillary dermis)

Question 8

are melanocytes found in the papillary dermis?

Answer 8

no, melanocytes are found at the basal end of the epidermal epithelium

Question 9

the fibrous component of most loose and dense connective tissue is…

Answer 9

type I collagen

Question 10

the tunica intima (inner layer) of most arteries is a good place to find what kind of fibers?

Answer 10

elastic fibers

composing the inner elastic lamina

Question 11

on H&E, how will elastic fibers stain, in comparison to collagen I fibers?

Answer 11

slightly lighter (less eosinophilic)
much thinner fibers
best visualized with special vaerhoeff’s stain

Question 12

how is a spread preparation different from the usual slide preparation?

Answer 12

multiple cell layers (not just one)

Question 13

between elastic and reticular fibers, which is more spaghetti web-like and which is more root-like?

Answer 13

• elastic: spaghetti web - not anchoring cells just filling space for stretching between structures
• reticular: roots - like roots burrowing between and among cells, providing scaffolding and structure

Question 14

what are 2 characteristics of organs in which you might expect to find reticular fibers?

Answer 14

• composed chiefly of migratory cells (e.g. lymph nodes or spleen)
• or-
• organization is such that connective tissue support should be minimized (e.g. lung, liver)

Question 15

what is the main fiber type found in embryonic mesenchymal tissue?

Answer 15

type III collagen, reticular fibers

Question 16

type IV collagen forms part of what layer of the basement membrane?

Answer 16

lamina densa

Question 17

in what organ is the epithelial basement membrane thicker than usual?

Answer 17

trachea

to block travel of nasty air stuffs to deeper layers

Question 18

what protein is a major component of the lamina lucida layer of basement membranes?

Answer 18

laminin

Question 19

why do basement membranes stain deep pink with PAS?

Answer 19

laminin, a glycoprotein, is a major component of the lamina lucida

Question 20

what is the name for the microvilli border of kidney tubules?

Answer 20

brush border

Question 21

in the kidney, this collection of tissue is the first blood filter

Answer 21

the glomerulus

Question 22

where can you always find loose connective tissue?

Answer 22

lamina propria