COLLEGE OF

MEDICINE

HISTOLOGY
LABORATORY MANUAL

This manual belongs to:

MONTALBO, MARK BENEDICT E.

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 I. PRACTICAL EXERCISES
1. Give the thickness (in micrometers and nanometers) of our usual histologic specimen. What
is the reason for such thickness?

4-6 um, this value is derived with the understanding that tissues at this thickness will facilitate proper
inspection of microscopic structures, allowing for a more accurate examination.

2. Cite the examples of: (organs or tissues)

Cells with brush Cells with cilia Cells rich in Cells rich in smooth
borders lysozome endoplasmic
reticulum
Simple columnar Epithelium of the Kidney tubules Hepatic tissue
epithelium of the small trachea
intestines
Proximal convoluted Bronchioles of the Vascular endothelium sarcoplasmic reticulum
tubules of the intestines. lungs

3. What is the chemical composition of the structure that attracts basic stain? That
attracts acidic stain?
Attract Basic Stain – Acidic components of the cell or anionic components.
Attract Acid Stain – Basic components of the cell or tissues with cationic components

4. Briefly define “fixation,” and give reasons for the need to have tissue fixed.

Fixation is the preservation of histologic samples for examination.

It is preservation for the purpose of morphological and chemical property preservation.

5. Based on the tissues you have studied, fill up the following table by providing examples:
Arrangement Tissue sample Cell shape Sample
Concentric Compact bone Cylindrical Smooth muscle

Haphazard Spinal cord Stellate Liver

Cords Meninges polygonal Jejunum

bundles Skeletal muscle columnar Skeletal muscle

I. PRACTICAL EXERCISES
1. On the space provided, illustrate the different junctional complexes. Consult
histology reference books.

2. Give the morphological types of the following glands:

Brunner’s Gland Crypt of Lieberkuhn Sweat Glands Sebaceous Glands
Branched Tubular Enterocytes Eccrine Holocrine
Gland Goblet Cells Apocrine
Tuft Cells

3. Give examples of:

Paracrine cells Neurocrine cells Endocrine cells Exocrine cells
Pyloric G-Cells Gastrointestinal cells Alpha cells of islet of Acinar cells of the
Langerhans pancreas

4. Give examples of:

Mucous glands Serous glands Holocrine glands Muco-serous glands

Mucous salivary Parotid gland, lacrimal Sebaceous gland of Sublingual gland
glands gland skin
 I. PRACTICAL EXERCISES
1. Enumerate the cells of the macrophage system. Give the functional importance of
this system.

Macrophage – ingestion of foreign materials in circulation

Kuppfer cells – macrophage of the liver

Microglial cells – Macrophage of the nervous tissue

Langehan cells – Antigen presenting, found in skin

Dendritic Cells – Found in lymph nodes for antigen presentation

Osteoclasts - bone breakdown

Monocyte – Macrophage precursor

2. Fill up the table with the required information:

Collagen Outstanding histologic description that Where Found

type differentiate the types (sample tissue/organ)
(include structural/molecular units if applicable)
I 300 nm molecule Skin, Tendon, Bones, Dentin
Tension resistance
Forms thick bifringent fibrils

II Loose aggregates of Fibrils Cartilage, Vitreous Body

300 nm molecule
Pressure resistance

III Argyrophilic fibers Skin, Muscle, Blood Vessels

67 nm molecules
Expansibility of Organs
Structural Integrity

IV Forms 2D Cross-linkage All basement membranes

Supportive if delicate fibers.
I. PRACTICAL EXERCISES
1. Discuss the importance of hyaline cartilage in the formation of long bones.
The hyaline cartilage makes it possible for the bone to grow, in endochondral ossification
The hyaline cartilage is the template in the formation of long bones.

2. Discuss the process involved in the repair of bone fractures.

First, hemostasis must be achieved and is achieved through the Coagulation pathways and Fibrin plug
formation, Second, the cells of the periosteum replicate and transform. Eventually all of the fracture callus is
replaced by trabecular bone. Lastly, the trabecular bone is replaced by compact bone.

3. Differentiate the following cells by filling the information asked for:

Osteoblast Osteocyte Osteoclast
Cells shape Cuboidal to Columnar Star-shaped / stellate Large acidophilic
cytoplasm
Number of Nucleus 1 1 Multiple
Cytoplasmic Staining Hematoxylin and Eosin Acidophile Basic Stain
slightly basophilic
Cells location in Surface of bone or Inside lacunae Within resorption
osteoid cavities
relation to the bone
Function Synthesize organic Routine turnover of Resorbs bone tissue
components of the bone matrix
matrix
Presence or absence Absent Present Present
of lacuna

4. Do the same for chondroblasts and chondrocytes using cartilage as reference. Use extra sheet for
your table.
Chondroblasts Chondrocytes
Cells shape Round Elliptical
Number of Nucleus 1 Multiple
Cytoplasmic Staining Basophilic Basophilic
Cells location in Perrichondrium Periphery of cartilage
relation to the bone
Function Develops into Secretion of collaged
chondrocytes
Presence or absence Present Present
of lacuna
5.Compare interstitial growth with appositional growth using the following table:
Interstitial Appositional
Cartilage cells involved in the Chondrocyte Chondroblast
growth process
Bone cells involved in the Osteocyte Osteoclasts and osteoblasts
growth process
Presence of perichondrium Not required required
required
Growth process gone through Positive negative
by hyaline cartilage
Growth process gone through Mitotic division Differentiation
by elastic cartilage
Growth process gone through Mitotic division Differentiation
by fibrocartilage
Growth process gone through Positive Positive
by bones
Direction of growth (width or Length Width
length?)
 III. PRACTICAL EXERCISES
1. How do neuromuscular spindles bring about muscle contraction?
When the muscle is stretched, sensory nerves pick it up, are stimulated and changes the contraction of the
muscle as perceived.

2. Give the role of each of the junctional complex found in the intercalated disc.
Fasciae adherents – angor sites for sarcomere
Maculae adherents – bind cells to prevent separating during contraction
Numerous gap junctions – provide direct ionic commonucation between cells and help with coordination

3. Discuss the functional significance of the closeness of the T-tubule with the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

T-tubules are closely associated with the intracellular calcium store known as the sarcoplasmic
reticulum the sarcoplasmic reticulum is a complex network of specialized smooth
endoplasmic reticulum that is important in transmitting the electrical impulse as well as in the storage of
calcium ions.

4. Compare the three types of muscle cells by filling up the required information:
Skeletal Smooth Cardiac
Shape of cell Long, cyndrical Spindle-shaped Y-shaped
Approximate length 3cm long 10um in 100 um long, 4-10 um 1 um long 10-25um in
diameter diameter diameter
Number of nucleus Many 1 1
Location of nucleus Peripheral Central Central
Presence of transverse Present Absent Absent
tubule
Presence of terminal Present Absent Present
cistern
Presence of sarcomere Present Absent Absent
Presence of T-triad Present Absent Absent
Presence of Absent Absent present
Intercalated disc