Introduction to Histology Flashcards
Why are tissues stained?
To see histological details
What is an electron microscope used for?
To see cells ultrastructure
e.g. nucleus, mitochondria etc
How are tissues preserved?
Why?
Placed in formalin (aqueous solution of gas formaldehyde).
Prevents tissue from rotting.
Method 1 - preparation of tissues for staining
- Prep thin slices of tissue
- Tissue is first preserved
- Samples of tissue to be examined are embedded in paraffin (process involves extraction of water and other substances from tissues).
- Fine slices of the tissues are made (4 microns thick)
- These are mounted on microscope slides and stained.
Method 2 - alternative methods of staining
Smear of tissue. Can be done by solid tissues also by fluids e.g. blood.
Looking at blood smears-see whole cells rather than thin slices through individual cell.
Why don’t some tissues go with either method of staining?
Too hard e.g. bones
Demineralise-can produce thin sections.
To see mineralised structure-grind down to produce thick slice.
Most commonly used dye
Combo of Haematoxylin and Eosin.
Water extra cellular jelly doesn’t stain
Appears as white spaces
Van Gieson’s trichrome stain
with haematoxylin counter-stain
Collagen - pink/red
Cytoplasm - yellow/olive green
Nuclei - black
Elastic tissue - dark brown
Haematoxylin
Nuclei - blue
RNA - blue
Eosin
Cytoplasm - pink
Collagen, Elastic - pink
Colloidal proteins, plasma - pink
Keratin - Orange/red
Alcian blue
GAG-rich structures - blue
Mucous goblet cells - blue
Mast cell granules - blue
Cartilage matrix - blue
Iron Haematoxylin
Nuclei - black
Elastic fibres - black
Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)
Hexose sugars - Magenta (dark pink)
(especially those contained in complex carbohydrate containing structures including:
goblet cell mucins, cartilage matrix, glycogen, basement membranes, glycocalyx)
Perl’s stain
Ferric iron - Prussian blue
Romanovsky stains
e.g. Giemsa’s of Leishman’s stains for blood films
Chromatin, nuclei, azurophils - purple
Neutrophils granules - purple
Erythrocytes, Eosinophil granules - red/pink
Lymphocyte & Monocyte cytoplasm - pale blue
Basophil granules - dark blue/purple
Toluidine Blue
Nuclei, Ribosomes - dark blue
Cytoplasm - pale blue
Cartilage matrix , mast cell granules - bright purple
GAG-rich components - bright purple
Lymphocyte size
- Small = 10micrometres in diameter
- Little cytoplasm as dormant and not fully differentiated
- Metabolically inactive
- Minimal RER
Neuron size
- Large = 100micrometres in diameter
- Fully differentiated
- Metabolically active
- Can’t see all processes due to slide thickness
Rounded cell shape
e.g. RBC’s-biconcave disc shape