Cardiovascular - Histology Flashcards
How do you identify red blood cells?
More pale in centre
How do you identify neutrophils?
Big chunks of dark blue staining
How do you identify eosinophils?
2-3 chunks of dark blue staining
How do you identify basophils?
Most of cell filled with blue stain
How do you identify lymphocytes?
Most of cell filled with blue stain, lighter area of cytoplasm around it
How do you identify monoctyes?
Kidney shaped area of dark blue staining
How do you identify platelets?
Little dots of blue staining
How do you identify reticulocytes?
Some grainy/bitty dark blue staining in cell
Describe the differences between histological slides of arteries and veins
Arteries: Thicker, muscular walls, circular shape
Veins: Large diameter, thin walls, irregular shape
What are the three layers of arteries and veins from innermost to outermost? Which is the thinnest?
Initma (thinnest)
Media
Adventitia
Where is elastic tissue found in vessels?
Their walls
Where is there more elastic tissue in vessels?
Closer to the heart
Describe the structure of arterioles and venules
Similar to arteries and veins but smaller
What are the two types of lymphatics?
Small and large
What are the differences between small and large lymphatics?
- Small: like capillaries
- Large: irregular shape, thin and filled with plasma that stains pink
What are the 2 types of capillaries?
Continuous and fenestrated
What is the intima made up of?
Endothelium and a small amount of connective tissue
What is the media made up of?
Smooth muscle
Difference between atrial and ventricular myocytes?
- Atrial ones are smaller due to different workload/resistance
What do atrial myocytes contain?
Small secretion granules close to the nucleus
Describe the structure of the SAN
Small, irregularly arranged myocytes. Surrounded by blood vessels and nerve plexuses.
Describe the structure of the AVN
Small, irregularly arranged myocytes. Surrounded by blood vessels and nerve plexuses. Made of specialised muscle fibres.
Describe the structure of Purkinje fibres
Large modified muscle fibres with large vacuoles and few myofibrils, contain stores of glycogen.
Which stain can be used to identify Purkinje fibres and why?
PAS as Purkinje fibre cells have stores of glycogen
Describe the structure of heart vavles
Thick collagen fibres with occasional elastic tissue. Lined by endothelial cells.
