Introduction to Histology Flashcards
What is histology?
The microscopic study of normal cells and tissue
What is pathology or histopathology?
Study of diseased cells and tissue
What microscopy is used to see the ultrastructure of tissues and cells?
Electron microscopy
What microscopy is most commonly used for histopathology?
Light microscopy
What biopsy is used for skin/oral?
Punch/incision
What biopsy is used for invisible lumps/organs?
Needle with MRI/X-Ray
What biopsy is used for colon/bladder/lung?
Endoscopic
What tissue does Masson trichrome stain?
Connective tissue
What does H&E stain?
Haematoxylin stains acidic structures such as nucleic acids blue/purple and eosin stains basic structures such as cytoplasmic proteins red/pink
What does Masson trichrome stain blue/purple?
Basophilic structures such as nucleic acids
What does Masson trichrome stain red?
Muscle, red blood cells, keratin, cytoplasm
What does Masson trichrome stain green/blue?
collagen
What does reticulin stain, stain?
Reticular fibres found in connective tissues black/blue
What microscopy is most compatible with staining?
Light
What are the stages of microscopic examination?
Specimen collection, fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning and staining
What is paraffin not compatible with?
alcohol/water
What is staining not compatible with and what is used to remove it?
xylene is used to remove paraffin
alcohol is used to remove xylene
water is used to remove alcohol
What does PAS stain?
complex carbohydrates, mucus from goblet cells, brush borders, basement membranes all magenta
What is the most common type of stain?
H&E
How does immunohistochemistry work?
Antibody conjugated to an indicator (enzymatic or fluorescent) specific to an antigen that is is trying to detect
What stain identifies functionality?
Immunohistochemistry
What does alcian blue stain?
Stains mucin and cartilage blue.
What does vie gieson stain?
collagen red
nuclei, RBCs, cytoplasm yellow
What device is used for sectioning and how thick are the sections?
7um thick sections cut using microtome, mounted on to glass slide
What is fixation and what chemicals are used?
Preserves the structural arrangement, terminates all biochemical reactions and prevents tissue decomposition.
Uses formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde
