Study Guide - Histology Course
A structured review of every topic in the histology course. Use this guide for exam prep, quick revision, or as a reference while studying slides.
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Basophilic | Stains with basic dyes (hematoxylin); nuclei and some RNA-rich cytoplasm appear blue-purple |
| Eosinophilic | Stains with acidic eosin; much cytoplasm, collagen, and RBCs appear pink |
| H&E | Hematoxylin and eosin, the standard routine stain in teaching and diagnostic histology |
| Simple epithelium | Single layer of epithelial cells |
| Stratified epithelium | Multiple layers; surface cell shape is named in classification |
| Pseudostratified columnar | Looks layered but all cells reach basement membrane; common in airways |
| Transitional epithelium | Stratified epithelium specialized for urinary tract distension |
| Basement membrane zone | Interface between epithelium and connective tissue; appearance varies by stain |
| Loose connective tissue | More ground substance, fewer dense fiber bundles; lamina propria |
| Dense regular CT | Parallel collagen as in tendon; elongated fibroblast nuclei between layers |
| Dense irregular CT | Interwoven collagen; dermis and organ capsules |
| Adipocyte | Fat cell; large lipid droplet often lost in processing leaving a signet-ring profile |
| Striation | Band pattern from sarcomeres in longitudinal skeletal and cardiac muscle |
| Intercalated disc | Cardiac myocyte junctions visible as step-like lines on many H&E sections |
| Smooth muscle | Fusiform cells, central nuclei, no striations on routine H&E |
| Gray matter | CNS regions rich in neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, and synaptic neuropil |
| White matter | CNS regions dominated by myelinated axon tracts |
| Artifact | Processing-induced change not present in living tissue (folds, bubbles, crush) |
| Fixation | Chemical preservation step that cross-links proteins and reduces autolysis |
| PAS | Periodic acid-Schiff; highlights some carbohydrates and mucins compared with H&E alone |
Epithelial
Polarity, layering, surfaces and glands
Connective
Matrix and fibers; scattered cells
Muscle
Contractile cells; striations vary by type
Nervous
Neurons and glia; laminar organization in cortex
| Component | Typical color | Quick rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Nucleus | Blue-purple | DNA and RNA are basophilic with hematoxylin |
| Cytoplasm | Pink | Many proteins are eosinophilic |
| Collagen matrix | Pink | Eosinophilic fibrillar proteins dominate the field |
Q1.Explain why nuclei appear basophilic on H&E while collagen appears eosinophilic.
Hematoxylin is a basic dye that binds acidic groups such as nucleic acids, so nuclei stain blue-purple. Eosin is acidic and binds many basic protein side chains, so collagen-rich matrix and much cytoplasm stain pink.
Q2.Compare simple squamous and stratified squamous epithelium with one example location each.
Simple squamous is a single layer of flat cells, suited for diffusion and frictionless interfaces (for example alveolar lining or endothelium). Stratified squamous has multiple layers with squamous surface cells for protection (for example skin epidermis or oral mucosa depending on keratinization).
Q3.How does dense regular connective tissue differ from dense irregular on a slide?
Dense regular tissue shows parallel collagen bundles with fibroblast nuclei aligned between layers, as in tendon. Dense irregular tissue shows collagen running in multiple directions without a single parallel axis, as in the dermis or organ capsules.
Q4.List three differences between skeletal and smooth muscle in histologic appearance.
Skeletal muscle is multinucleated with peripheral nuclei and shows striations in longitudinal section. Smooth muscle cells are spindle-shaped with a single central nucleus and lack obvious striations on routine H&E. Skeletal muscle is voluntary; smooth muscle is involuntary in walls of viscera and vessels.
Q5.Name two common artifacts and how you might recognize them.
Folds appear as abrupt architectural discontinuities with a dark crease line. Coverslip bubbles appear as round clear spaces that shift with fine focus and do not represent real tissue spaces. Crush artifact smears nuclei and should be distinguished from true cytologic atypia using adjacent fields.
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