Tissue's of the Body Flashcards
What is histology?
The study of the structure of tissues by means if specific staining techniques combined with light or electron microscopy
- gold standard of diagnosis
What is a tissue?
A collection of cells specialised to perform a particular function
What is a biopsy?
The removal of a small piece of tissue from an organ or part of the body for microscopical examination
Name the two fixatives commonly used?
Glutaraldehyde
Formaldehyde
Why do we get shrinkage artefacts?
Occurs due to the dehydration and rehydration due the fixing of tissue samples
Name the three stains used?
- H&E Haemotoxylin and Eosin Blue/purple (acidic) Pink (basic) - Period acid schiff Magenta (stains carbohydrates, glycoproteins and muscous secreting goblet cells)
What is the advantage to phase contrast microscopy?
- allows us to see the detailed in unstained living cells
- heightened contrast
What is the advantage to dark field microscopy?
- smaller details are easier to see
- allows detection of syphillus and malaria
What is the advantage to fluoresce end microscopy?
- can see where individual substance lie within the cells
- can use multiple different fluorescent stains on 1 specimen
What is the advantage to confocal light?
- can image optical sections via a laser to show 3D structure
- eliminates out of focus flare
- good for imaging living tissues
Why do tissues need to be fixed?
A fresh biopsy is often wet and bloody so will go off even if we refrigerate it. If fixed the cross linking structure is preserved and there is no auto lysis or putrefaction
Define the limit of resolution
Minimum distance at which two objects can be distinguished
Why are electron microscope capable of finer resolution an light microscopes?
Because the limit of resolution is directly proportional to the wavelength used and an electron microscope uses electrons which have a smaller wavelength (depends on voltage used) so therefore has a smaller limit of resolution
Define epithelial tissues
Sheets of contiguous cells of varied embryonic origin that cover the external surface of the body and line internal surfaces
Describe the positioning of the basement membrane
Is the thin, felixible, acellualr layer which lies between epithelial cells and the subtending connective tissue
What is the structure of the basement membrane?
Consists of a basal lamina (laid down by the epithelial cells and leis closets too them) it’s thickness depends on the thick variable, layer of reticular fibres (type II collagen) elaborated by the subtending connective tissue
What is the function of the basement membrane?
Strong flexible layer to which epithelial cells adhere to
Is a cellular and molecular filter
Name and describe the three different types of simple epithelium?
Simple squamous
Simple cuboidal
Simple columnar
Where might you find simple squamous epithelium and what is its function?
Function: lubrication, has exchange, barrier, active transport by pinocytosis
Found: lining of blood & lymph vessels (endothelium), lining of body cavities e.g. Pericardium, pleural sacs, peritoneum (mesothelium), bowmans capsule, loop of Henle, inner and middle ear, respiratory epithelium/pulmonary alveoli
What is the function of simple cuboidal epithelium? And where is it found?
Function: Absorption and conduit (exocrine glands), Absorption and secretion (kidney tubules), barrier/covering (ovary), hormone synthesis, storage and mobilisation (thyroid)
Found: thyroid follicles, kidney tubules, small ducts of exocrine glands, kidney tubules, surface of ovary
What is the function of simple columnar epithelium? And where is it found?
Absorption (small intestine, colon, gall bladder)
Secretion (stomach lining, gastric glands, small intestine, colon)
Lubrication (small intestine, colon)
Transport (oviduct)
Can have microvilli
Found: stomach lining, gastric glands, small intestine, colon, gall bladder, large ducts of some exocrine glands, oviducts, uterus, ductuli efferentes of testis
Describe Pseudostratified epithelium?
Looks multi layered but every cell is attached to the basement membrane
What is the function of pseudostratified epithelium and where is it found?
Protection, secretion, cilia mediated transport of particles trapped in mucus absorption (epididymis, respiratory tract)
Found: upper respiratory tract (cilia & goblet cells), ductus epididymis, parotid gland, lacrimal sac, large excretory ducts, auditory tube and part of tympanic cavity
What does it mean if an epithelium is stratified?
It’s is more than one cell thick
Name the types of stratified epithelium? (There are 6)
Simple, cuboidal, columnar, stratified squamous keratinised, stratified squamous non keratinised, transitional
What is the function of stratified squamous keratinised epithelium and where is it found?
Function: protection against abrasion and physical trauma, prevent water loss, prevents ingress of microbes, shields against UV light damage
Found: surface of skin
What is the function of stratified squamous non keratinised epithelium? And where is it found?
Function: protect against abrasion, reduces water loss but remains moist
Found: oral cavity, oesophagus, larynx, vagina, part of anal cavity, surface of cornea, in ER surface of eyelid
What is special about translational epithelium?
The surface cells vary in shape from columnar, cuboidal to flattened
What is the function of translational epithelium? And where is it found?
Function: can be relaxed or stretched I.e. Distensibility, protection of underlying tissues from toxic chemicals
Found: renal calyces, ureters, bladder, urethra
Why are there different rates of renewal for epithelial?
Differ depend in on location & function (& injury)
E.g. Epidermis in skin 28 days, small intestine 4/6 days (powerful hydrolytic enzymes)
Some cease to renew once adulthood is reached but can be triggered to replace cells lost through physical damage or toxic injury
What is the function of Junctional complexes?
Bind epithelial cells together so the epithelial cell can act as a gate keeper for what passes through to adjacent cells. Results in preventing of sizeable, molecules passing in between adjacent epithelial cells I.e. Via paracellular route
What is metaplasia?
An abnormal change in a type of tissue, change from on epithelial style to another as a result of a stimulus. Often a pre-malignant state.
What is neoplasia?
Change resulting from disease e.g. Tumour (neoplasm)
Define a gland
An epithelial cell or aggregate if cells that are specialised for secretion
What are the four ways of classifying glands?
Destination, structure, nature of secretion and method of secretion
What are the two classification of destination in glands?
Endocrine: ductless glands which secretes into the blood stream
Exocrine: gland which deliver the secretions onto a epithelial surface via a duct
What are the three classifications by structure of glands?
Secretory part: unicellular/multicellular, acinar/tubule, coiled/branched
Duct system: simple gland (1 duct), compound gland (branched duct)
Branching ducts: main>interlobular>intralobular>intercalated
What are the two ways of classifying glands by the nature of their secretion?
Mucous gland: secrete mucous rich in mucins
Serous gland: have water secretions free id mucous (enzymes)
What colour do mucous glands stain in H&E?
Cells stain poorly
What colour do serous gland stain in H&E?
Stain pink in H&E
- eosin stains them pink, basic?
What are the three ways of classifying glands by the nature of their secretion? And give an example of each
Merocrine e.g. Parotid gland (acinar serous)
Apocrine e.g. Lactating mammary gland
Holocrine e.g. Sebaceous gland
Describe merocrine secretion?
Secretion is Exocytosis
So membrane bound compartment, cell surface membrane is transiently larger, additional membrane removed stabilising cells surface area and only secretory products are released!
Describe apocrine secretion?
Non membrane bound structure (lipid), droplet of cell membrane drapes around it, droplet pinches off, plasma membrane transiently smaller so membrane added to regain original cell surface area.
Secretory product + portion of cell surface membrane is released
Describe Holocrine secretion
Disintegration of the cell leading to all of its contents being released, I.e. The cell has died
Define endocytosis
The process of engulfing material initially outside of the cell
What is trans epithelial transport?
The coupling of endocytosis and Exocytosis allowing large molecules that are too large to penetrate membranes to be shunted across one compartment of the body to another.
Describe…..
What is glycosylation and where does it occur in the cell?
Is the addition of branching sugars to proteins or lipids
Occurs in the cisternae of the Golgi apparatus
Why does glycosylation occur?
- specificity, offers complex shapes for specific interactions in glycolyax
- adhesion to cells and substrates
- cell mobility
- communication with neighbouring cells
- contact inhibition of movement and division
What are the four ways in which secretions from glands are controlled? Giving examples
Nervous e.g. Sympathetic nervous system stimulates release of adrenalin from adrenal medulla
Endocrine e.g. ACTH stimulate released of glucorticoids from adrenal cortex, Zona Fasciculata and Zona reticularis
Neuro-endocrine e.g. Nervous cells in hypothalamus stimulate releases of ACTH from anterior pituitary gland
Negative feedback: e.g. T3 and T4 high levels reduce release and synthesis of TSH from the anterior pituitary gland
Negative feedback
What is the role of secretions in cell functions?
In communication: many products of cells that are secretion will go off and bind to a ligand or receptor in another cell in another tissue perhaps stimulating another response/action to occur e.g. Neurotransmitters released into synaptic cleft
What are microvilli?
Closely packed finger like extensions of the cell surface membrane, increase surface area for absorption & secretion
What are cilia?
Elongated, motile, plasmalemma covered extensions of cytoplasm, move material along cell surface, each one arises from a centriol
What are stereocilia?
Are actually long microvilli that branch as well as clump together
Don’t move
Precise fixing on is unknown
Found on small cells in ear
What are myoepithelial cells?
They are cells that facillitate the movement of secretions along them in a duct
What do mucous membranes line? Give examples
Line certain tubes that are open to the exterior
E.g. Alimentary tract, respiratory tract, urinary tract
What are the three layers to mucous membranes?
Epithelium, lamina propria (thin layer of CT), muscularis mucosa (alimentary tract only)
What are serous membranes?
Are thin two part membranes which line certain closed body cavities and envelop viscera
E.g. Peritoneum, pericardial sac, pleural sacs
What do serious membranes consist of?
Simple squamous epithelium
Connective tissue
Inner membrane = visceral
Outer membrane = parietal
Define connective tissue
A huge continuum throughout the body linking together muscle, nerve and epithelial tissue in a structural way and provides support and structure in a metabolic and physiological way.
Of what origin is connective tissue?
Mesodermal origin (red-middle)
What are the functions of connective tissue?
- provide substance, form, shape to body
- medium for diffusion for nutrients and waste products
- attach muscle to bone (tendons) and bone to bone (ligaments)
- cushion between tissues and organs
- defence against infection
- aid in injury repair
What is the function of fibroblasts?
Synthesise and maintain the extra cellular matrix (ground substance and fibres)
What are the function of macrophages in CT?
Phagocytosis antigen presenting cells
E.g. Kuffer cells
What is the function of mast cells?
Contain granules in cytoplasm which contain histamine and heparin which when released attracts neutrophils and eosinophils (involved in allergic reactions)
What are the cells found in connective tissue?
Fibroblast, macrophages, mast cells,
Plasma cells (secret ab),
pericytes (regulate blood flow through capillaries),
adipose tissue (white - store lipids, brown-heat production, cushion, insulation, shock absorbers)
Leukocyte (production of immunocompleric cells)
What is the ground substance?
It is the gel like matrix in which fibres and cells are embedded.
It contains glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) -vecharged so attracts H2O
Proteoglycans
Glycoproteins
ECF diffuses through
Part I’d extra cellular matrix in Ct
What are the three types of fibres found in the extra cellular matrix of connect is tissue?
Collagen
Reticular
Elastic
How do you classify mesenchymal connective tissue?
Of embryonic origin
Spindle shaped cells with large nuclei
Reticular fibres with small blood vessels
How would you classify mucous connective tissue/Wharton’s Jelly?
Found in umbilical cord and sub dermal CT of embryo only
Fibroblast with oval nuclei
Collagen bundles and irregular
Describe loose/areolar connective tissue?
Cells: many fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells
EX material: wispy like collagen fibres, elastic fibres, water gs
Examples: adipose, blood, alveolar CT
Describe dense regular connective tissue
Cells: elongated flattened fibroblasts in parallel rows
EX material: parallel rows of densely packed collagen (thick)
Examples: tendons, ligaments (high tensile strength)
Describe dense irregular connective tissue
Cells: fibroblast and macrophages
EX material: coarse haphazardly arranged bundles of collagen with some elastic and reticular fibres
E.g. Dermis (prevents tearing)
Describe reticular connective tissue (special type)
Cells: reticular cells, large oval nuclei, lymphocytes and macrophages
EX material: reticular fibres
Examples: liver, kidney, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow
What are the macroscopic structures of skin? And what do they vary with?
Hair Thickness Colour Wrinkling Oiliness Vary with: age, sex, ethnicity, UV exposure, site
What are the four layers of the epidermis?
Horny layer - stratum corneum
Granular layer - stratum granulosm
Prickle cell layer - stratum spinosm
Basal layer - stratum basalt
Describe keratinocyte differentiation
- mitosis mainly occurs in basal layer
- daughter cells move towards prickle cell layer where terminal differentiation begins
- keratinocytes lose their ability to divide
- in granular layer lose plasma membrane and begin to differentiate into corneocytes
- stratum corneum is made up of flattened corneocytes
Of what origin are melanocytes?
Neural crest origin
Where can melanocytes be found?
Found at interval along basal layer of epidermis