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2.2 Cellular Pathology > Pigments and Minerals > Flashcards

Pigments and Minerals Flashcards

1
Q

Define what a pigment is

A

A pigment is a material that changes the colour or reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption

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2
Q

How are pigments defined in biology

A

Substances occurring in living matter that absorb visible light

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3
Q

Classify pigments

A

Endogenous

Exogenous

Artefact

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4
Q

Classify endogenous pigments

A

Haematogenous pigments

Non-haematogenous pigments

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5
Q

What are haematogenous pigments

A

Blood derived pigments

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6
Q

Give three examples of haematogenous pigments

A

Haemosiderins

Haemoglobin

Bile pigments

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7
Q

Give two examples of non-haematogenous pigments

A

Melanins

Lipofuscin

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8
Q

What are lipofuscins
(2)

A

Fine yellow-brown pigment granules composed of lipid-containing residues of lysosomal digestion.

It is considered to be one of the aging or “wear-and-tear” pigments

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9
Q

What are haemosiderins
(4)

A

Yellow or brown granules which normally appear intracellularly

Contain iron in the form of ferric hydroxide

Excessive in haemochromatosis

Deficient in anaemia

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10
Q

How can excess iron be dangerous in the body?
(3)

A

Excess iron absorption

Can’t excrete excess iron

Stores in the liver primarily and leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis

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11
Q

In your own words what are hemosiderins
(2)

A

Haemosiderins are iron-storage complexes

They are composed of partially digested ferritin and lysosomes

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12
Q

How does hemosiderin look on H&E

A

Brown deposits

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13
Q

What stain is used for hemosiderin (iron)?

A

Perls Prussian Blue

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14
Q

What are bile pigments
(2)

A

Bile is part of the breakdown product of rbcs
Bile appears browny on H&E but is more globular than iron

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15
Q

What stain is used for bile?

A

Fouchet’s Stain for Bile

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16
Q

How does Fouchet’s Stain for bile work?

A

Ferric chloride oxidises all bile pigment to green biliverdin

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17
Q

When would you see bile pigments
(2)

A

If there’s an obstruction in bile ducts ->bile will build up in hepatocytes

This is seen in fibrosis

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18
Q

Write a note on melanin
(6)

A

Found in the skin, brain, eye and hair

Different types, colours and amount in people

None in albinism, reduced amount in vitiligo

Associated with melanomas

Synthesised from tyrosine

Need to be able to identify malignant or benign processes

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19
Q

Write a note on melanin
(6)

A

Found in the skin, brain, eye and hair

Different types, colours and amount in people

None in albinism, reduced amount in vitiligo

Associated with melanomas

Synthesised from tyrosine

Need to be able to identify malignant or benign processes

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20
Q

How do we stain for melanin
(4)

A

An argentaffin reaction

Granules with melanin bind and reduce silver ions

Melanin is reduced by ferric ferricyanide

Then bleached with potassium permanganate

21
Q

What is an argentaffin

A

A cell which takes up silver e.g. melanin

22
Q

What do we do with a query melanoma

A

It will undergo immunohistochemistry

23
Q

List the steps in an argentaffin reaction for melanin
(3)

A

Granules with melanin bind and reduce silver ions (Masson Fontana)

Reduce ferric ferricyanide (Schmorls)

Bleach with potassium permanganate

24
Q

List the steps in an argentaffin reaction for melanin
(3)

A

Granules with melanin bind and reduce silver ions (Masson Fontana)

Reduce ferric ferricyanide (Schmorls)

Bleach with potassium permanganate

25
List three different ways of carrying out immunostaining for melanomas
S100 protein in melanocytes and neural cells HMB45 – antigen on melanosomes Tyrosinase enzyme or Melan A
26
Does an argentaffin reaction require a reducer?
NO
27
Does an argentaffin reaction require a reducer?
NO
28
What are the two types of silver reactions
Argentaffin reaction Argyrophil reaction
29
What molecular markers can be used for melanin
BRAF V600E
30
What stain is specific for melanin
Masson Fontana
31
How does a melanoma appear on cytology
Brown coloured cells -> melanin in cells that shouldnt have melanin
32
What is used to confirm the presence of melanocytes in cytology
Melan A -> carried out on body fluids where you wouldn't expect to see melanocytes
33
Write a note on lipofuscin (7)
Wear and tear pigment Yellow colour Lysosomal Intracytoplasmic Found in brain, liver and heart Lipid breakdown products Associated storage disease - ceroid lipofuscinosin
34
What histochemistry tests can be carried out for lipofuscin (3)
Schmorls Sudan Black B Ziehl-Neelsen
35
How does lipofuscin look on H&E
Redish brown
36
What stain is most commonly used for lipofuscin
Schmorls
36
What stain is most commonly used for lipofuscin
Schmorls
37
How do exogenous pigments differ from endogenous pigments (3)
They have no physiological functions Gained by inhalation, ingestion, implantation etc Most are classified as minerals and few are coloured
38
Give two examples of exogenous pigments
Carbon in the air Tattoo pigment in the skin
39
Where can carbon be seen
Seen in the lung especially in dust cells -> lung macrophages High amounts seen in people who live in industrial towns -> not seen often here
40
Where can tattoo pigment be seen (2)
Tattoo pigment seen in the skin Can be mistaken for melanoma if deep e.g. close to the epidermis
41
What causes artefact pigments
Due to chemical fixation -> less common today as we use buffered solutions
42
Give an example of an artefact pigment
Formalin
43
Write a note on formalin as a pigment (3)
Brown pigment Need to differentiate it from pathological pigments Needs to be removed with picric alcohol
44
Define minerals
Naturally occuring homogenous inorganic substances having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, colour and hardness
45
Give three examples of minerals
Calcium Copper Iron
46
Write a note on calcium
Constituents of bones and teeth in the form of calcium phosphate
47
Write a note on calcium
Constituents of bones and teeth in the form of calcium phosphate
48
Write a note on calcium
Constituents of bones and teeth in the form of calcium phosphate

2.2 Cellular Pathology (29 decks)

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