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Basic Histology study of (primary) tissues Systemic Histology Organs and Systems
Also called microanatomy. Basis of function Stepping stone to cellular basis of disease histopathology
Histology
A Different World!
Microscopes many varieties Special preparation of material Largely two-dimensional Interpretation, analysis and application Histological scale
Most material is in the form of sections (slices), usually 4 to 8 thick. Thinner sections for electron microscopy
The Cell
Details of cell biology and cell division are being covered elsewhere. If there are specific histology-related questions feel free to ask me!
Organelles and their functions emphasis on mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, membrane-bound vesicles, lysosomes. Nuclear membrane Chromosomes seen as such only during cell division Chromatin
Nucleus
Euchromatin Lighter areas active, uncoiled DNA Heterochromatin Darker areas compact material A euchromatic nucleus is large, round and pale active cell
Tissue a group of cells serving a common function. Immense variety of body structures all boil down to four principal tissue types
(In histological technique the term tissue is used to mean any bit of body
Epithelium
Covers body surfaces, lines organs and cavities. Sliding protein filaments movement. (Sliding protein filaments also the basis of movement at cellular level.
Muscle
Nervous tissue
Generation and transmission of electrical changes in cell membranes. Supporting cells also included. Binding and packing material mechanical strength, elasticity. Other types of support carrying nerves and blood vessels Wide variety of functions.
Connective tissue
Integration of Tissues
Small intestine as an example.
Epithelium for lining secretion and absorption. Muscle for moving food. Connective tissue to join.
Nerves (not seen).
Epithelium
Epidermis of the skin Cornea of the eye Hair and nails are epidermal structures Internal organs intestines, other tubular structures including heart and blood vessels. Body cavities Compact sheets of cells tailored into a variety of shapes Very little intercellular substance compactness Cell junctions integrity of sheets, cell-to-cell communication and other functions. Basement membranes Avascularity supporting tissue required.
Lining cavities
Epithelium
Some functions demand a single layer of cells simple epithelium. Friction/wear and tear : Multiple layers of cells stratified epithelium.
Epithelium Classification
Flat cells squamous Tall cells columnar Internediate cuboidal Stratified squamous Stratified cuboidal Stratified columnar Transitional (surface cells can change their shapes).
Stratified cuboidal and columnar epithelia : few examples. Transitional epithelium is found in the urinary system it will be studied later!
Epithelia as sheets
Simple columnar
Blood vessels. Allows exchanges across capillary walls, also maintains a smooth surface in the heart and other vessels. The latter is important as blood tends to clot on rough surfaces. Lungs gas exchange across epithelium. Air-containing spaces and blood capillaries are both lined by this epithelium. The blood-air barrier is thus made of two epithelial layers and some very fine connective tissue between the two. There are a few other sites where this epithelium is seen. These will be discussed with the relevant organs/systems. Also bear in mind that even for the sites mentioned above, the role of the epithelium will be discussed further when these systems are studied.
Absorption
Secretory vesicles Golgi rER
Secretion
Individual microvilli are too fine to be seen with the light microscope. With the LM, one sees only a pink band on the surface
Cilia
Hairlike, motile projections. Each cilium anchored by a basal body. For movement of fluid on the surface. Fluid may be watery or viscous (mucus). Cilia beat in one direction.
Transitional
Glands
Or
Or
A large organ by itself. In either case, elements of supporting connective tissue exist.
Types of Glands
Glands can be classified in may overlapping ways. Exocrine (with ducts) and endocrine (ductless). Exocrine glands :
Simple (single duct) and compound (branched duct system). Type of secretion serous, mucous or mixed. Mode of secretion extent of cytoplasmic loss.
Rather than making it a learning issue, it is fruitful to understand these terms as we come across them. Besides, there are glands that defy the concepts of classification! The following diagram serves to illustrate some of the types of glands. Some of the terms are purely descriptive!
A is a unicellular gland
(a goblet cell!).
D is a simple tubular
gland. E is a simple, coiled tubular gland.
In F and G, the duct is single, but the secretory portions are branched.
Cytoplasmic Loss
Little or no loss of cytoplasm. Partial loss of (apical) cytoplasm. Entire cell disintegrates to release secretion.
Apocrine gland
Holocrine gland
These terms are best understood in the context of glands of the skin.
A glandular unit with serous secretions shows round nuclei, well-stained cytoplasm and a small lumen. Usually the basal portion of the cytoplasm is basophilic due to rER, the apical portion with secretory granules is acidophilic. A mucous unit has cells loaded with lightly stained mucus in the cytoplasm. This pushes the nuclei towards the outer side.
Larger Glands
A larger gland is histologically a complex threedimensional structure with secretory units and branches of ducts sectioned in various planes. These details will be studied with the digestive system where we come across a variety of glands. It is, however, worth noting that such a proliferation of epithelial cells compresses the connective tissue. Such partitions of connective tissue separate parts of glands of varying sizes, called lobes and lobules. The connective tissue framework is called the stroma, the epithelial element is the parenchyma. These terms are met with in many solid structures.
Last slide!