intro to microcopic anatomy/histology

Question 1

Define epithelium

Answer 1

type of tissue that lines surfaces and forms glands

Question 2

Define squamous epithelial cells

Answer 2

epithelial cells that cannot produce secretions but keratin

Question 3

Define cuboidal/columnar epithelial cells

Answer 3

epithelial cells that can produce secretions

Question 4

Define urothelium

Answer 4

the epithelium of the urinary tract

Question 5

Define endothelium

Answer 5

the epithelium of blood vessels and lymphatic channels

Question 6

Define the mesothelium

Answer 6

the epithelium lining large body cavities and the surface of large organs

Question 7

Define basement membrane

Answer 7

collagen layer to anchor epithelial cells to

Question 8

Define glands

Answer 8

specialised epithelial structures to make secretions, hormones, acid

Question 9

Define cytokeratins

Answer 9

intermediate filaments of epithelia

Question 10

What are tissues received and kept in?

Answer 10

• fixatives
• mostly formalin (10% formaldehyde in H2O)

Question 11

What is fixation useful for?

Answer 11

• prevents autolysis
• ensures preservation
• hardens the tissue for cutting

Question 12

How do you make the specimen into a wax block?

Answer 12

• more fixation
• alcohol to remove water
• xylene to remove alcohol
• paraffin to remove xylene

Question 13

What machine is used to cut sections of the wax block?

Answer 13

a microtone

Question 14

What is used to stain the sections of wax ?

Answer 14

haematoxylin and eosin stain

Question 15

Describe the haemotoxylin stain colour and what it represents

Answer 15

• purple
• nucleus

Question 16

Describe the eosin stain colour and what it represents

Answer 16

• red/pink
• cytoplasm
  -organelles
• cell membrane

Question 17

What is immunohistochemistry used for?

Answer 17

• as a way to detect proteins on/in cells or tissues

Question 18

How does immunohistochemistry work? What is the result?

Answer 18

• antibody labelled with brown indicator
• brown slide = protein present
• blue background stain = no protein

Question 19

What are the 6 main types of tissues?

Answer 19

• epithelium
• connective tissue
• muscle
• neural tissue
• germ line cells
• blood

Question 20

What are the 5 types of epithelium cells

Answer 20

• squamous
• glandular epithelium
• urothelium
• mesothelium
• endothelium

Question 21

Give 4 characteristics of epithelia?

Answer 21

• high cell turnover
• regulate molecular exchange
• sensory functions
• immune functions

Question 22

Describe epithelium structure

Answer 22

• tight junctions to seal borders
• desmosomes for strength
• gap junctions to allow transfer of molecules

Question 23

What does squamous epithelium look like under a microscope?

Answer 23

like the scales of fish

Question 24

What are endocrine glands?

Answer 24

• glands that don’t have a duct
• secretions go directly into the blood

Question 25

Give examples of endocrine glands

Answer 25

• thyroid
• adrenals
• pituitary

Question 26

What are exocrine glands?

Answer 26

• glands that have a duct

Question 27

Give examples of exocrine glands

Answer 27

• salivary glands
• sweat glands

Question 28

How many different types of cytokeratins are there?

Answer 28

around 20

Question 29

What are the layers of layers of blood vessels from inside to outside?

Answer 29

• intima
• internal elastic lamina (IEL)
• media
• external elastic lamina (EEL)
• adventitia

Question 30

Describe the intima layer of blood vessels

Answer 30

simple layer of endothelium and loose connective tissue

Question 31

What are the IEL and EEL made of?

Answer 31

elastin

Question 32

Describe the media layer of blood vessels?

Answer 32

circumferential smooth muscle

Question 33

Describe the adventitia layer of blood vessels

Answer 33

collagen and little arteries/veins/nerves to supply the vessel wall tissues

Question 34

What are the 3 types of arteries?

Answer 34

• elastic arteries
• muscular arteries
• arterioles

Question 35

How can you recognise the cervix from looking at epithelia?

Answer 35

squamous and columnar epithelium next to each other

Question 36

How can you categorise epithelia by shape?

Answer 36

• cuboidal/columnar
• simple
• squamous
• stratified
• ciliated
• keratinising

Question 37

How can you categorise epithelia by function?

Answer 37

• glandular (secretions)
• neuroendocrine

Question 38

How can you categorise epithelia by location?

Answer 38

• urothelium
• endothelium
• mesothelium

Question 39

Describe simple epithelia

Answer 39

one layer + basement membrane

Question 40

Where can you find simple epithelia

Answer 40

• endothelium
• mesothelium
• kidney tubules
• alveoli
• respiratory tract

Question 41

Describe stratified epithelia

Answer 41

more than one layer + basement membrane

Question 42

What does the ‘stratified’ in stratified epithelia mean?

Answer 42

the higher layers have no connection to the basement membrane

Question 43

Give some examples of stratified epithelia?

Answer 43

• skin
• mouth
• anus
• oesophagus

Question 44

What are glands formed from?

Answer 44

specialised cuboidal/columnar epithelial cells with secretory ability

Question 45

What are cytokeratins?

Answer 45

intermediate filaments of epithelia (proteins)