Histology

This page last updated September 21, 2007

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This lab focused on the examination and identification of various tissues from around the body.  The tissues can be divided into four main categories.  To see a larger version of each image, click on the picture.  The magnification of the images is listed in the title for each.  Most of these  pictures were taken at 400x, since that is the highest magnification of the scope that has the camera attached, but some of them were taken using a camera with 450x capabilities, so check the magnification for each image to see how it corresponds to what you saw in lab.

You also can use the web pages linked on the "Resources" page and the histology tutorial on the PhysioEx 3.0 CD that came with your lab packet to review this material.

Remember, on the practical, you are expected to be able to do three things for the tissues you viewed in this lab:  1) identify the tissues, 2) state where the tissues are found, and 3) state one function for the tissues

Epithelial Tissue
Simple squamous - 400x

This slide shows the human lung tissue.
Simple columnar - 400x

In this slide, you can see the simple columnar cells along either side of the white cavity.  You can also see some goblet cells (including some that have released their mucus).
Simple cuboidal - 450x

You can clearly see the cuboidal cells lining a kidney tubule.
Stratified squamous - 400x

The picture is a little blurry, but you can see the darkly stained nuclei forming several layers.
Pseudostratified, ciliated columnar - 400x

The top edge of cells are of this type.  The cilia can be seen as a pinkish haze on the apical surface of the cells.
Transitional - 450x 

You can clearly see the different cells, some of which reach the basement membrane, and some of which do not.
 

Connective Tissues
Blood - 450x magnification.  

Most of these cells are red blood cells, but you can see a larger, darkly stained white blood cell on the right side of the picture.
Areolar connctive tissue - 400x

This isn't the greatest picture, but you can see the general pattern of various fibers spread throughout the tissue.
Dense, regular connective tissue (white fibrous) - 400x

This is the type of tissue you find making up the tendons and ligaments.

Dense, regular connective tissue (white fibrous), teased - 400x

Here is a picture of white fibrous connective tissue that has been teased apart to show the fibers
Elastic connective tissue - 400x

This tissue clearly shows the thick elastic fibers found in this kind of tissue
Adipose tissue - 400x

This picture clearly shows the yellow adipose cells.
Reticular connective tissue - 400x

This tissue shows a slide from a spleen.
Hyaline cartilage - 400x

You can see the lacunae spread out, with no fibers visible in the matrix.
Fibrous cartilage - 400x

You can see the lacunae interspersed with the prominent fibers.  Compare to the dense regular connective tissue slide above.
Elastic cartilage - 400x

Note the lacunae where the chondrocytes are located.
Bone - 400x

The Haversian canals, canaliculi, and lacunae (containing the osteocytes) are all clearly visible in this slide.
 

Muscle Tissue
Skeletal muscle - 400x

The striations may not be as visible as you'd like, due to the quality of the camera, but they are present...
Cardiac muscle - 400x

You can see the striations and some of the branches formed by the cells in this image.
Smooth muscle - 400x

You can see the fibers have been teased apart in this slide
 

Nervous Tissue
Neurons - 400x

You can see the large cell body in the left edge of the image, with a darkly stained nucleus.
 
 

All images copyright 2002 S.C. Burnett - Do not use without permission