Histology
Laszlo Vass, Ed.D. Version 42-0013-00-01

Purpose

What is the purpose of this exercise? To observe tissues.

Are there any safety concerns associated with this exercise? If so, list what they are and what precautions should be taken. Normal safety precautions should be taken.

Exercise 1: Epithelial Tissue

Data Table 1: Epithelial Tissue Observations
TISSUE TYPE
OBSERVATIONS

Simple Squamous
Alveoli, simple squamous cells

Simple Cuboidal
Basement membrane, connective tissues,simple cuboidal cells

Simple Columnar (stomach)
Basement membrane, connective tissue,simple columnar cells, microvilli, nuclei

Simple Columnar (duodenum)
Basement membrane, connective tissue,simple columnar cells, microvilli, nuclei

Stratified Squamous (keratinized)
Keratinized cells, epidermis, papillarydermis, reticular dermis

Stratified Squamous (non-keratinized)
Stratified squamous cells, basement membrane, connective tissue

Pseudostratified Ciliated Columnar
Cilia, psuedostratified cells, basementmembrane, connective tissue

Transitional
Umbrella cells, basement membrane, connective tissue

Stratified Cuboidal (online)
Stratified cuboidal cells, connective tissue, sweat gland

Stratified Columnar (online)
Stratified columnar calls, cell nuclei, connective tissue

Questions

A. Why is the study of histology important in the overall understanding of anatomy and physiology? The study of histology is important in the overall understanding of anatomy and physiology because it helps with understanding the structure and function of various tissues is important for studying organs and systems. B. How are epithelial tissues named?
Epithelial tissues are named based on shape and arrangement.
C. Why are some epithelial tissues stratified?
Some epithelial tissues are stratified because they have multiple layers of cells as opposed to simple tissues which are only a single layer of cells.
D. Unlike squamous cells, cuboidal and columnar cells have large, open cytoplasm. Which functions of epithelial tissue are supported by having such big cells?
Absorption, secretion and it allows rapid diffusion or transport of substances through membrane. E. Look at the following drawings and identify each type of epithelial tissue:

1. simple squamous 2. simple columnar 3. pseudostrati fied columnar

4. stratified squamous Exercise 2: Connective Tissue
Observations

Data Table 2: Connective Tissue

Tissue
Amount and Shape of
Cells
Amount of
Matrix
Are there fibers? If so, are they parallel or scattered? Mesenchyme (online)
23- polygonal
20%
both

Aerolar (online)
28- spindle
30%
parallel
Adipose (online)
8- polygonal n/a n/a

Dense Irregular (online)
20- polygonal
35%
scattered

Reticular
40- star shaped
30%
scattered

Dense Regular: Tendon
Too many to count n/a parallel

Hyaline Cartilage
Too many to count-round
30%
n/a

Elastic Cartilage
Too many to count
50%
scattered

Fibrocartilage
Too many to count
40%
parallel

Compact Bone
Too many to count-round
90%
parallel
Human Blood
Too many to count-round
Too much n/a Questions

A. What is the primary function of connective tissue?
They protect, support and bind together the other tissues of the body.

B. What can the shape of the cells in a particular type of tissue tell about the function of that tissue?

Some shapes refer to the way a cell looks in typical tissue sections, not to the complete threedimensional shape of the cell. Cells that look one way in a tissue section usually look completely different if viewed from its upper surface.

C. What is matrix? Why do some tissues have more matrix than others?
Matrix is non-cellular matter between the cells. Some tissues have more matrix than others because