College of Nursing

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

LABORATORY

ACTIVITY # 05
TISSUE, GLANDS AND MEMBRANES

I. OBJECTIVES:

1. To observe characteristics common to all epithelial, connective, nervous and muscle tissues
2. To differentiate types f epithelial tissue according to their cellular components
3. To differentiate the types of connective tissue according to their components
4. To cite major differences between connective tissue and epithelial tissue
5. To know different types of glands and membranes.
6. To identify the types of muscles, their morphological characteristics and structural components
7. To identify nervous tissue, their cellular components and structure

II. MATERIALS

1. Compound microscope
2. Prepared slides of X-S of blood vessels, small intestines, kidney, trachea, human skin, urinary
bladder, urethra
3. Prepared slides of dense fibrous connective tissue (tendon), loose fibrous or areola, elastic
reticular and adipose tissue.
4. Slides of skeletal muscles, cardiac muscles and smooth muscles
5. Cross section of myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fiber

III. PROCEDURES

1. Epithelial tissue. Focus each slide under LPO.

Locate the epithelial tissue except for the human skin where the epithelium is on its surface. All
other specimens have the epithelial tissue as their innermost lining. Locate the basement
memories. Shift to MPO or HPO for more detailed study. Observe closely the cellular membrane
arrangement, cell forms, number of cellular layers and the amount of matrix between and among
the cells.
2. Connective tissue. Focus each slide under LPO to get a general view of each specimen. Observe
the:
a. Distribution, abundance, forms and types of cells
b. Amount of intercellular substance of matrix
c. Presence arrangement and types of fibers

Shift to MPO of HPO for detailed study

3. Muscle tissue.
Obtain the slides of a smooth muscle. Study this under MPO and HPO. Study how long spindle
cells are arranged.
Examine a slide containing a section of the heart under LPO. Notice the shape of the cells, how
they are arranged with one another. Take note of the shape of their nucleus and how the nuclei are
distributed. Shift to MPO or HPO “transverse line “maybe seen crossing the cells giving the
muscle fibers a strapped appearance. These are striations. There may also be thicker known as
“intercalated discs”.
Mount slide of the skeletal muscle and observe under LPO. Observe how the fibers are compactly
arranged paralleled to one another. Shift to MPO/HPO and look for the myofibrils, nucleus of the
body (anteriorly and posteriorly)

UC-CON: Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory│ Tissue, Glands and Membranes | 1

 4. Nervous tissue. Focus the slide showing the cross section of the myelinated and unmyelinated
nerve fiber under LPO. Look for all the structures of a neuron.

IV. DRAWINGS

Draw the specimen as seen under two observed objectives (LPO, MPO/HPO). Below each,
indicate types of tissue and total magnification.

V. QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

EPITHELIAL

1. Enumerate the characteristics common to all epithelial tissues studied in forms of:
a. Arrangement of cells

They form sheets of tightly bound cells or roll into tubes. Epithelial cells lie on the  basement membrane.
Epithelial cells have two different “sides”—apical and basolateral.

b. Amount of intercellular substance of matrix

The cells in epithelial tissue are tightly packed together with  very little intercellular matrix. Because the
tissues form coverings and linings, the cells have one free surface that is not in contact with other cells.

c. Locate the epithelial tissue

Epithelial tissue or epithelium forms the outer covering of the skin and also lines the body cavity. It forms
the lining of respiratory, digestive, reproductive and excretory tracts.

d. Structure that separates epithelial tissue from other types of tissues

Epithelial cells attach to a specialized kind of extracellular matrix called the  basal lamina or basement
membrane that separates epithelial cells from the underlying tissue.

2. How would you distinguish a non-stratified from stratified epithelial tissues?

The fundamental difference between simple and stratified epithelial tissue is that  simple epithelial tissue
has only one cell layer. In contrast, stratified epithelial tissue has two or more cell layers piled upon each
other.

3. Classify the specimens used into non-stratified

The stratified epithelium may be categorized based on the type of cells that makes it up.

4. Based on the location and arrangement of the cells of epithelial tissue, give four possible
functions of said tissue. Explain each and cite a specific organ where such is exhibited.

Epithelial tissues are widespread throughout the body. They form the covering of all body
surfaces, line body cavities and hollow organs, and are the major  tissue in glands. They perform a variety
of functions that include protection, secretion,  absorption, excretion, filtration, diffusion, and sensory
reception.

CONNECTIVE

1. Enumerate characteristics of connective tissues common to the majority of specimens studied.

Connective tissues come in a vast variety of forms, yet they typically have in common three characteristic
components: cells, large amounts of amorphous ground substance, and protein fibers.

2. Identify the pipes of connective tissue fibers in the specimen studied. Describe each as to their
forms or shapes, arrangement location and abundance.

UC-CON: Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory│ Tissue, Glands and Membranes | 2

Connective tissue consists of three main components: cells, protein fibers, and an amorphous ground
substance. Together the fibers and ground substance make up the extracellular matrix. Whereas the other
tissue types (epithelium, muscle, and nervous tissue) are largely made up of cells, the extracellular matrix
is the major component of most connective tissue.

3. List down the types of connective tissues and give a brief description of each as two.
a. Types of cell present of their abundance.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

b. Types of fibers present, if any, their arrangement and abundance.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

c. Amount of intercellular fluid present

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Compare the connective tissues with the epithelial tissues. Cite at least four differences.

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________

MUSCLE

1. What cellular structures were visibly common to all types and muscle cell?

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________

2. In tabulated form, differentiate the skeletal, smooth or cardiac muscles in terms of:
a. Location
b. Functions
c. Types of control
d. Structural features (cell width, cell form, number of nuclei, position of nuclei, presence of
intercalated disc, t-tubules, sarcoplasmic reticulum)
e. Contraction style

NERVOUS

1. Describe the structure of a neuron.

UC-CON: Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory│ Tissue, Glands and Membranes | 3

 _________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________

2. What are the differences observed between the myelinated and non-myelinated nerve fibers?

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________

GLANDS AND MEMBRANES

a. Enumerate and give the function of the different types of glands (tabulate)

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

b. Complete the following table relating to body membranes.

MEMBRANE TISSUE TYPE COMMON FUNCTIONS

LOCATIONS

SEROUS

MUCOUS

CUTANEOUS

SYNOVIAL

c. Why do injuries in adults heal more slowly?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

d. Why would heparin be important to the body?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Total score: ______________

UC-CON: Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory│ Tissue, Glands and Membranes | 4

Student’s Name Yr & Sec Date Clinical Instructor

UC-CON: Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory│ Tissue, Glands and Membranes | 5

UC-CON: Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory│ Tissue, Glands and Membranes | 6