HISTOLOGY-L2
INTRODUCTION TO HISTOLOGY NOTE: Tissue comes to the lab fresh or in formalin.
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Why are we studying histology?
● To develop a mental image of the microscopic
appearance of cells, structures, tissues, and organs.
● To correlate microscopic appearance with function in
health and disease.
● To provide a basis for later study of anatomy and
pathology.
● To pass boards.
Where does histology fit in?
● Microscopic anatomy (histology)
● Gross anatomy
● Other basic science courses
● Biochemistry NOTE: The specimen is placed in a “cassette” that goes
● Physiology into an automated processor for tissue fixation.
● Microbiology
● Pathology
● Pharmacology
Here is some stuff you should know about histology
before we get started.
NOTE: The specimen is embedded in paraffin…
Fresh lung specimen
Formalin container for specimen …and then cut into super thin slices.
Hematoxylin (blue) is positively charged.
NOTE: The tissue is transferred onto a slide…
Eosin (red) is negatively charged.
...and then stained and coverslipped.
—–—————————————————————————— Section of pancreas stained with hematoxylin only
Section of pancreas stained with hematoxylin and eosin Section of pancreas stained with eosin only
Same section stained with both H & E…WAY BETTER.
Silver stains are great for fungi (this one is Aspergillus)
Section of skin stained with hematoxylin and eosin
The silver stain also stains reticulin fibers
(this is a lymph node).
Blood smear stained with Wright-Giemsa stain
The periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain highlights sugars
(this is a liver section with a lot of glycogen).
Red blood cells (about 7 µm)
Toluidine blue stain of lymph node
(mast cell granules stain violet)
Hepatocytes (about 25 µm)
The acid-fast stain highlights M. tuberculosis organisms.
Red blood cells
Motor neurons (about 50-80 µm)
Lymphocytes (about 9 µm)
Adipocytes and their nuclei
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Something else to remember:
slideshow 2D images of 3D structures
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RBC
Motor neurons and their nuclei Aspergillus is a long, branching organism
