Gastrointestinal and Liver Histology

Question 1

What lines the oral cavity, lips and tongue?

Answer 1

None/keratinised, stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 2

Why is the mouth lined with keratinised, stratified squamous epithelium?

Answer 2

• Needs a strong layer due to receiving abrasive foods.

Question 3

What is the general epithelium of the salivary glands?

Answer 3

Secretory glandular epithelium.

Question 4

What is the difference in staining between mucous and serous acini?

Answer 4

Mucous acini stain more weakly.
Have nucleus at base.
Have large central duct.

Question 5

What is the epithelium of the intercalated ducts of salivary glands?

Answer 5

Simple cuboidal

Question 6

What is the epithelium of the interlobular (excretory) ducts of salivary glands?

Answer 6

Simple coloumnar

Question 7

What is the epithelium lining the oesophagus?

Answer 7

Stratified squamous epithelium

Question 8

What are the 3 types of mucus producing tissue in the stomach?

Answer 8

• Gastric fundic mucosa
• Gastric body mucosa
• Gastric antral mucosa

Question 9

What is the epithelium of the mucus producing tissue in the stomach?

Answer 9

• Simple coloumnar epithelium

Question 10

What are 2 specialised cells of the gastric body mucosa? How do they stain?

Answer 10

• Parietal: lighter pink

- Chief cells: Darker pink, grouped.

Question 11

What type of epithelium is the mucosa of the GI tract?

Answer 11

• Glandular epithelium (with some endocrine cells.)

Question 12

What is the submucosa made up of?

Answer 12

Loose collagen (connective tissue.)

Question 13

What is the muscularis propria made up of?

Answer 13

2 layers of smooth muscle.

• Some ganglion cells from NS which control contraction: sitting between the 2 layers of smooth muscle; grouped and stain lighter.
• Few interstitial cells of Cajal (pacemaker cells.)

Question 14

What is the whole outer serosa of the GI tract covered with?

Answer 14

Mesothelial cells.

Question 15

What is the basic structure of the whole gut?

Answer 15

• Crypts. Pacemaker cells develop and divide towards the bottom and become normal cells as they move up.

Question 16

What is a specific feature of the small intestine?

Answer 16

• Villi with microvilli on them.

Question 17

What can be found in the appenix and how does this stain?

Answer 17

Large lymphoid aggregates. Small grouped cells which stain dark.

Question 18

What is the tongue made up of?

Answer 18

Mainly skeletal muscle with mixed sero-mucous salivary glands.

Question 19

Which glands does the duodenum contain that the jejunum and ileum do not?

Answer 19

Brunner’s glands

Question 20

What is a feature of hepatocytes?

Answer 20

Lots of cytoplasm.

Question 21

How do Kupffer cells stain?

Answer 21

Scattered amongst hepatocytes, stain grey.

Question 22

What epithelium lines the biliary system?

Answer 22

Coloumnar cells with connective tissue beneath.

Question 23

Describe the histological appearance of the exocrine pancreas.

Answer 23

Covers most of pancreas.
Lots of cytoplasm in cells.
Exocrine acini surround larger centroacinar cells.

Question 24

Describe the histological appearance of the endocrine pancreas.

Answer 24

Islet’s of Langerhans

Scattered throughout exocrine pancreas, lighter staining, smaller, grouped cells.

Question 25

What cells usually in the skin feature in the pancreas?

Answer 25

Pacinian corpuscles - pressure sensors.