Lab # 6

Microscopic study of
human cheek cell

1st year- Physiology Lab

Muhammad Amir Mustufa
M.Sc., M.Phil (Neurophysiology)
Lecturer- Physiology- UQU
BLS Instructor – UQU
Electro-neurophysiologist 1
Objectives

• By the end of this experiment, the student should be able to:

o Identify the human cheek cell .

1st year- Physiology Lab

o Describe the main differences between plant and animal cell.

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Outlines

• Identify the human Cells.

• Comparison between animal cell and plant cell.

1st year- Physiology Lab

• Procedure.
• Precautions to follow.

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 Tissue
A tissue is composed of cells that function
together in a specialized activity.

• There are four important types of tissue

found in animals and human.

1st year- Physiology Lab

These are:

• epithelial,
• connective,
• nervous, &
• muscle tissues. 4
 h

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l Four Tissue Types:
1 2 3

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4
 Function of Tissues
1
Tissue Function

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1 Epithelial tissue Protect (covers the body parts).

2 Connective tissue connects & supports

3 Nervous tissue conducts nerve impulses,

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Muscle tissues contracts (body movement)
 Types of epithelial tissue:
 Squamous epithelium (thin, Flattened cells, tiles like).

2  Cuboidal epithelium (Cube-shaped cells).

 Columnar epithelium (Elongated cells).

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Theory and Principle:
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 The human cheek cells are squamous
T
epithelium.
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O for
 They are typical cells that can serve as model
studying general properties of animal cells.

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g Requirements:
• Fine sticks or toothpicks,
• Slides and cover slip,
• Dissecting needle,

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• Dropper,
I s
• Methylene blue (Stain)
IF
• Tissue paper/lens cleaning paper
• Compound microscope.
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IN
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Use of stain
I i I
 Increase visibility of specimen
 Highlight specific morphological features
MD
(nucleus)

1st year- Physiology Lab

stain Examples of stain
f Methylene blue: used to stain cheek cell
t
 Leishman : used to stain blood cells (white blood
cells) 11
d
Jobin used to stain onion C Plant
 Iodine : used to stain onion cell (plant cell)
 Procedure
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  Observation

11 my
Human Cheek cells stained with methylene blue.

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Fixed under low power lens Fixed under medium power objective lens
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I Procedure
1-Take a sterile tooth pick from freshly unsealed tooth
pick box.

2-Gently scrap the inner lining of your cheek with the

1st year- Physiology Lab

blunt end of a sterile toothpick.

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3-Do not use force while scraping. This procedure will
collect several cells adhered to it that are not visible
with naked eye.
y
4- Place a drop of water in the center of a clean glass
slide and stir the end of the tooth pick containing 17
cheek cells.
Procedure, cont..

5-Place a cover slip over the drop of water by referring to

the method described in earlier experiments.
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1st year- Physiology Lab

6-Put a small drop of methylene s blue at one edge of the
slide having cover slip.
7-With the help of touch a small piece of tissue paper at the
opposite edge of cover slip

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Procedure, cont.

8. The slide is now ready. Place it on the stage of

microscope and focus with low (scanning) Power
objective. É
9. Locate an area where the cheek

1st year- Physiology Lab

cells are seen clear.

10. Now move the slide on the stage towards its center.
Change magnification from scanning to low power
objective.

11. Observe the human cheek cells having small size, oval
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nucleus and ill-defined shape, unlike onion cells in
medium power objective.
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  Observation
j J's
 The cheek epithelial cells are
very thin,
flat,
hexagonal (six-sided)

1st year- Physiology Lab

or irregularly shaped cells.
In the cheek, they provide a smooth, tile-like
lining. checked b 169
 Some of the cheek cells may be covered with small
013 155 E(mouth).
granules like structures (small blue dots ), these are
s usually bacteria that lives in oral region
g
Eat
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 Precautions: i wa

I. Do not scrap the inner lining of cheek cell

forcefully.
II. Hold the slide from its edge while dislodging the
cheek cells from tooth pick.
III. No air bubble should be under the cover slip.

1st year- Physiology Lab

IV. Only one or two drops of methylene blue stain
should be poured.
V. Be careful when working with stains. Avoid
getting stains on hands and clothes.
VI. Wash hands if they come in direct contact with
stain.
im a I
VII. Always start to focus the slide with scanning 21
(lowest power) objective then switch to others
 The main differences between plant and
animal cell
Structure Plants cell Animal cell

Cell wall Yes No

A Plastids Yes No

I
puntCentrioles

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No Yes

Lysosomes No Yes
I
Nucleus Terminal central

Vacuoles Large- central Few -small

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 cent

Is

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Write down the name of parts of animal cells which are not found in

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plant cells?

Answer : Centrioles and Lysosomes

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check cells
it a
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Calculate size of cheek cell

1st step : Determine dfovlp (use ruler)

D

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2nd step : Determine dfovmp (use equation)
dFOVmp = dFOVlp x Mag.lp
Mag.mp

3rd step : Calculate the size of cheek cell

(dfovmp / no. of cheek cells under microscope) 25
Calculate size of an ckeek cell

1st step : dfovlp (1.5mm)

2nd step : dfovmp (0.375mm)

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3rd step : size of an object

0.375 / number of cheek cell 26

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References
1) Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health
and illness Anne Waugh ,Allison Grant 13 th
Edition,2018. Churchill Living stone, London, New
YORK.

1st year- Physiology Lab

2) Laboratory Exercises and Techniques in Cell Biology by
Anthony Contento 1st Edition 2012 Wiley publisher ,USA

3) Principle of Human Physiology Gerald J. Torture 6th

Edition ,2006.Harper & Row ,publisher , New York.

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 Thank You

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