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Intro to Histology Flashcards

1
Q

Histology

A

The study of microscopic structure, composition and function of anatomical tissues

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1
Q

Tissues

A

Groups of cells that are similar in structure and function

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2
Q

Why do we study histology?

A

Knowledge of normal histological appearances is essential if abnormal diseased structures are to be recognized

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3
Q

Forensic Histology

A

To reveal cause of sudden unexpected deaths

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4
Q

Diagnostic Histology

A

Biopsies

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5
Q

Autopsy

A

Studying a biological tissue from a deceased person to learn about circumstances that caused death

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6
Q

What steps are part of Histology Tissue Preparation?

A

Fixation -> Tissue Processing -> Embedding -> Microtoming -> Staining

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7
Q

Fixation

A
  • Uses Formalin (10% formaldehyde)
  • Terminates any ongoing biochemical reactions preserving tissue from decay by preventing autolysis and increases mechanical strength of the treated tissues
  • Forms cross links with Lysine
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8
Q

Tissue Processing

A

1) Dehydration: to remove fixative water from the tissue to minimize distortion from diffusion currents using ethanol

2) Clearing: replaces the dehydrating fluid with a fluid that is totally miscible with the embedding medium

ex: Xylene (most common), Toluene, Chloroform, Benzene, Petrol

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9
Q

Embedding

A

The process by which tissues are surrounded by a solid medium wax to provide external support during sectioning

Paraffin wax is used because it improves ribboning, increases hardness, decreases melting point, and improves adhesion between specimen and wax

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10
Q

Microtoming (Sectioning)

A

The microtome precisely advances the paraffin block so that the sections are cut at specific increments with a steel knife normally cut at 5-10 micrometers in thickness

Tissue floating bath: Once cut, the tissue ribbons are carefully transferred to a warm water bath allowed to float on the surface and can be scooped up onto a slide placed under the water level. Slides are allowed to dry upright at 37 degrees Celsius for a few hours to gently melt the excess paraffin wax leaving the tissue section intact

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11
Q

Staining

A

Histochemical stains (typically hematoxylin and eosin) are used to provide contrast to tissue sections, making tissue structures more visible and easier to evaluate

The wax must be dissolved and replaced with water and then passed through xylene at decreasing strengths and finally water. Once stained, the section is dehydrated once again and placed in xylene

Cover slipping: A cover slip is mounted over the tissue specimen on the slide, using optical grade glue, to help protect the specimen

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12
Q

Three major types of microscopes used for studying histology

A

Light microscope (LM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM)

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13
Q

What is LM used for?

A

Viewing tissue and organ construction

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14
Q

What is TEM used for?

A

Viewing ultrastructure of cells and extracellular materials

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15
Q

What is SEM used for?

A

Viewing surface details and 3D shape

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16
Q

Total Magnification = ?

A

Ocular Magnification x Objective Magnification

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17
Q

Oil immersion

A

Technique used to increase the resolving power of a microscope

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18
Q

What are you able to see under high magnification?

A

Cytoplasm & Nuclei

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19
Q

Plane of section that goes up and down

A

Longitudinal

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20
Q

Plane of section that goes left to right

A

Transverse

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21
Q

Plane of section that misses the “yolk”

A

Tangential

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22
Q

Plane of section on a slant

A

Oblique

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23
Q

Plane of section that displays 2 circles

A

Transverse in region of sharp curve

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24
Lumen
Inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine
25
Apical surface
Surface of the plasma membrane that faces inward to the lumen
26
Lateral surface
Surface of the plasma membrane adjacent to neighboring cells
27
Basal surface
Bottom edge of the cell or tissue adjacent to the basement membrane
28
Stain: Hematoxylin & Eosin
- Most common stain - Basophilic (blue): nuclei - Eosinophilic (red): cytoplasm
29
Stain: Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)
Used to detect polysaccharides
30
Stain: Masson's Trichrome
Used to differentiate between collagen and muscle
31
Stain: Elastic Tissue
Used in the histological demonstration of elastin in tissue sections
32
Stain: Mallory-Azan
Used for staining connective tissue and epithelium
33
Stain: Wright-Giemsa
Used for staining blood and bone-marrow smears
34
Stain: Silver and Gold Methods
Used to demonstrate fine structures such as cell processes in neurons
35
Stain: Osmium Tetroxide
The only fixing agent known which completely and easily fixes fats
36
Stain: Iron Hematoxylin
Stain nuclei bluish/black
37
Stain: Alcian blue
Stains mucosubstances
38
Vertebrate Organizational Structure
Cells -> Tissues -> Organs -> Organ Systems -> Organisms
39
Cell Membrane
Forms an important barrier or boundary between the cell's internal and external environment
40
Cilia
Move substances over the cell surface
41
Flagellum
Propels sperm
42
Microvilli
Increase membrane surface area for greater absorption
43
Cytoskeleton
Provides structural support to cell; stabilizes junctions between cells Assists with cytosol streaming and cell motility; helps move organelles and materials throughout cell; helps move chromosomes during cell division
44
Cytoplasm
Surrounds the nucleus
45
Cytosol
Provides support for organelles; serves as the viscous fluid medium through which diffusion occurs
46
Nucleus
Contains chromatin, nucleolus, and nucleoplasm
47
Nucleolus
Synthesizes ribosomes
48
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)
Synthesizes proteins for export or for lysosomes; synthesizes integral membrane proteins and phospholipids for the cell membrane Has ribosomes attached on surface
49
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)
Synthesizes, transports, and stores lipids; metabolizes carbohydrates; detoxifies drugs, alcohol, and poisons; forms vesicles and peroxisomes NOT lined with ribosomes "liver of the cell"
50
Peroxisomes
Contains oxidative enzymes; detoxifies specific harmful substances either produced by the cell or taken into the cell
51
Golgi Bodies
Involved in concentrating, packaging, and sorting secretory products of the cells
52
Lysosomes
Contains many hydrolyzing or digestive enzymes called acid hydrolases; digest microbes or materials
53
Vesicles
Contain various types of materials to be transported through the cell
54
Mitochondria
"powerhouse of the cell" Synthesizes most ATP during aerobic cellular respiration by digestion of fuel molecules
55
Ribosomes
Have an important role in protein synthesis
56
Inclusions
Serve as temporary storage; NOT metabolically active
57
Centrosome
Organizes microtubules; participates in mitotic spindle formation during cell division
58
Junctional Complexes of Cells
Provide adhesion and communication between cells tight junctions, adhering junctions, and gap junctions
59
Zonula Occludens (Tight Junction)
Composed of actin filaments Seals adjacent cells to one another; controls passage of molecules between them
60
Zonula Adherens (Adherent Junction)
Composed of actin filaments Provides points linking cytoskeletons of adjacent cells; strengthens & stabilizes nearby tight junctions
61
Macula Adherens (Desmosome)
Intermediate filaments Provides points of strong intermediate filament coupling between adjacent cells strengthening the tissue
62
Hemidesmosome (Anchoring Junction)
Intermediate filaments Anchors cytoskeleton to the basal lamina
63
Nexus (Gap Junction)
Allows direct transfer of small molecules & ions from one cell to another
64
What is the medical significance of cell junctions?
Defects may compromise the fetal blood-brain barrier, leading to severe neurological disorders Loss of adherens in epithelial cell tumors, promotes tumor invasion and the shift to malignancy
65
Observations considered when examining a cell type
- Shape of cell - Size of cell - Shape/Size/Position of nucleus - Identification of a nucleolus if present
66
Which is the only cell without a nucleus?
Erythrocyte
67
Cell
Fundamental unit of life
68
Fat cell
Adipocyte
69
Red blood cell
Erythrocyte
70
White blood cell
Leukocyte
71
Platelet
Thrombocyte
72
Skin cell(s)
Keratinocyte Melanocyte
73
Cardiac muscle cell
Cardiomyocyte
74
1 muscle fiber = ?
1 muscle cell
75
Liver cell
Hepatocyte
76
Sperm cell
Spermatocyte
77
Egg cell or ovum
Oocyte
78
Nerve cell
Neuron
79
Bone cell
Osteocyte

Histology (3 decks)

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