Histology and Cytology Flashcards
What is histology?
microscopic division of Anatomy
the study of the TISSUEs of the body
-now used to encompass cytology and organology as well
What is cytology?
study of the cells of the body
What are the four types of tissue studied in histology?
epithelial tissue (epithelium)
muscle tissue
connective tissue
nervous tissue
define a tissue
group of similar cells with common function, also ECM
list the levels of structural organization
chemical > cellular > tissue > organ > organ system > organismal
epithelial tissue
covers body surfaces, lines hollow organs, body cavities and ducts and glands
connective tissue
diverse, protect and support body
muscle tissue
contractile, makes force
nervous tissue
detect stimuli and generate action potentials and nerve impulses
Light Microscopy
Specimens examined via transillumination (i.e., passing light through the specimen to facilitate observation)
Steps: 1. Acquisition of Cells or Tissues 2. Fixation 3. Processing Dehydration – using a graded series of alcohol Clearing – using a miscible substance Infiltration – using a liquid embedding medium 4. Embedding 5. Sectioning 6. Staining
-pink images
takes a lot of time, can lose components
or get contaminants in slide prep, has to be incredibly thin (7-10 micrometers)
fixative: stop metabolism and bacteria/viruses/fungi, harden tissue (12 hours in fixative)
Electron Microscopy
Provides:
Greater Resolution
Higher Magnification
Two Types:
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
uses a beam of electrons that passes through the specimen
higher magnification
greater resolution
black and white on images
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
beam of electrons scans the surface of the specimen
Atomic Force Microscopy
AFM
How is resolving power (resolution) defined? How does it compare between the three microscope types and the human eye?
Defined as how far two objects must be separated from one another so that they can be distinguished as two distinct objects:
Human Eye – 0.2 mm Light Microscope – 0.2 μm SEM – 2.5 nm TEM – 0.05 nm (theoretical) / 1.0 nm (tissue section) Atomic Force Microscopy – 50.0 pm
What 5 factors is resolution dependent on?
- Optical System
- Wavelength of Light Source
- Specimen Thickness
- Quality of fixation
- Staining Intensity
What does fixative do?
stop metabolism and bacteria/viruses/fungi, harden tissue (12 hours in fixative)
for light microscopy
Processing
Dehydration
using a graded series of alcohol
Clearing
using a miscible substance
Infiltration
using a liquid embedding medium
What are the common problems with the typical histological technique used to prepare tissues to be observed with a light microscopic examination (i.e. with paraffin)?
- Time - takes awhile (days)
* Use of Cryostat (tissue into liquid N, back in few min.) - Solvent Dissolves Lipids (interested in them often, don’t want to lose)
* Double Fixation – First fixation with glutaraldehyde and a second fixation with osmium tetroxide
* great for preservation of membranes and TEM looks great - Shrinkage of Tissues
* Embedding in Resin
Acidic dyes
- carry a net negative charge; bind with cationic cell/tissue components (i.e. those that carry a net positive charge)
- ex. eosin (pink or red hue), orange G, and acid fuchsin
- stain acidophilic (or eosinophilic) tissues (i.e. those tissues with a high affinity for acid dyes; these tissues exhibit acidophilia)
- mitochondria, secretory granules, collagen fibers (as well as other extracellular fibers), general cytoplasm, basement membrane; staining with acidic dyes is less specific; more substances within cells and the extracellular matrix exhibit acidophilia than basophilia
Basic Dyes
- carry a net positive charge; bind with anionic cell/tissue components (i.e. those that carry a net negative charge)
- ex. toluidine blue, alcian, and methylene blue; hematoxylin(doesnt actually have neg charge or pos charge but acts like it does), although not a basic dye, acts like one
- stain basophilic tissue (i.e. those tissues with a high affinity for basic dyes; these tissues exhibit basophilia)
- these dyes will bind to the negative phosphate group on DNA and RNA (cell nucleus, nucleoli, RNA-rich portions of the cytoplasm); the carboxyl groups of proteins; sulfate groups of cartilage matrix (GAGs)