Light Microscopy Flashcards
What is a tissue?
A collection of cells specialised to perform a particular function.
What is an organ?
An aggregation of tissues with a specific set of functions.
What diameter are most human cells?
10-20 micrometers.
He large are human egg cells?
0.1 mm
How large are human red blood cells?
7.2 micrometers.
What is a biopsy?
The removal of a small piece of tissue from an organ or part of the body for microscopic examination.
What is a smear biopsy used for?
To take a biopsy from the cervix or buccal cavity.
What is a curettage biopsy used for?
Taking a biopsy from the endometrial lining of the uterus.
What is a needle biopsy used for?
To take a biopsy of the brain, breast, liver, kidney or muscle.
What is a direct incision biopsy used for?
To take a biopsy from the skin, mouth or larynx.
What is an endoscopic biopsy used for?
To take a biopsy from the lungs, intestine or bladder.
What are the stages of tissue processing for s biopsy?
Fixation with glutaraldehyde of formaldehyde.
Dehydration with water and ethanol.
Clearing with xylene or toluene and ethanol.
Embedding with wax.
Sectioning using a microtome.
Rehydration with xylene ethanol and water.
Staining.
Dehydration with water ethanol and xylene.
Mounting on a slide using DPX.
What does haematoxylin stain and what colour is it?
Acidic components of cells purple/blue.
E.g. Nucleolus and chromatin.
What does eosin stain and what colour is it?
Stains basic components of cells pink.
E.g. Most cytoplasmic proteins and extracellular fibres.
What does PAS stain and what colour is it?
Carbohydrates and glycoproteins magenta.
