This page contains additional resources to supplement your Practical Class on Cells and Tissues.
Remember that this class is an introduction to cells and tissues only, and that there are whole textbooks on this subject (Histology) alone.
Use the NIH Medline Dictionary to search for terms you don't understand.
Understand the histological appearance of the 4 basic tissues:
epithelium, connective tissue, muscle, nervous
Examine unique cellular appearance of the basic tissues
Relate morphology of the basic tissues to their functions
Page Links: Virtual Slidebox | Epithelium | Connective Tissue | Muscle | Nerve | Internal Links | External Links | NLM Online Textbooks | Glossary
First, think of the 2 main types of cell organization in the early 3 layer embryo: flat sheets of cells (epithelia, Ectoderm and Endoderm) and randomly organised mixtures of cells (mesenchyme, Mesoderm). This arrangement of cells has a role to play in the future development of each adult tissue.
Second, consider each tissue to consist of both cellular (functional and structural) and non-cellular (extracellular matrix) components. Though remember that the non-cellular component is actually made (secreted) by some specific, or all, cells in the tissue itself.
Third, each adult organ and structure is a mixture of the 4 basic histological tissues. So when we look in histological sections from practically any region, we expect to be able to identify a number of basic tissues. Use this knowledge when you study the section of the tongue.
Practical 10 Virtual Slides in class |
Low Power of each selected tissue Gall Bladder | Esophagus Once you have looked through all the different basic tissues, see how many different tissues you can identify in just the tongue. |
We describe epithelia by the number of cell layers, the surface cell shape and surface specializations. In development, we also see glands forming from infolding and differentiation of epithelia.
One layer of cells- simple epithelium
Two layers or more of cells- stratified epithelium
Surface layer cell shape- squamous (flat), cuboidal (square) or columnar (long)
Surface specializations- cilia, microvilli, keratin (high/low level)
Links: VSlide: Gall Bladder |
Esophagus |
Skin |
UNSW Embryology: Epithelia |
Glands
| External:
Epithelia
| Skin |
Simple epithelia
Stratified epithelia
| USC Epithelium |
Web Define : epithelium | simple epithelium | stratified epithelium | glands | cilia | microvilli | Gall bladder |
Tissue of mesodermal origin, the name says it all it connects, binds and ensheaths organs, tissues and structures.
There are several types of connective tissues defined by their organization (loose, dense regular, dense irregular), main cell type (adipose, cartilage, bone) or physical properties (elastic, reticular). Note that blood is considered a "liquid" connective tissue.
In the above sections of epithelium (outer layer), have underlying connective tissues layers. For example in the skin: epidermis (epithelium), dermis (dense irregular connective tissue), hypodermis (adipose cell containing connective tissue).
Links: VSlide: Lymph Node | Lymph Node | Hyaline Cartilage |
Bone |
UNSW Embryology: Connective Tissue
| Cartilage and Bone
| External: UWA Blue Histology Lymph Node
| Cartilage |
Bone |
Compact bone |
USC Connective Tissue |
Web Define : connective tissue | fibroblast | chondrocyte | Haversian system | osteon | reticular
Tissue of mesodermal origin which has a contractile function. All have the same contractile apparatus (myosin and actin) but it's overall arrangement with in different muscles differs: striated (skeletal, cardiac) and non-striated (smooth).
Three muscle types: skeletal, cardiac and smooth.
Links: VSlide: Muscle |
UNSW Embryology: Muscle
External: UWA Blue Histology Muscle |
Skeletal muscle |
Cardiac muscle |
Smooth muscle |
Web Define : muscle | skeletal muscle | cardiac muscle | smooth muscle
Tissue of ectoderm origin with the 2 main cell types, neurons and glia derived from the same stem cells. Both these cell types have different
adult functions and proliferative ability (in general glia can divide, neurons don't).
Links: VSlide: Nerve | UNSW Embryology: Nerve | External: UWA Blue Histology Nervous
On the G2/G4 Lab computers only are the following resources. Access these resources through the Class Program icon using the Anatomy tab at the top of menu.
Labelled drawings (PDF documents) by Dr Carol Lazer of Histology terminology and these basic tissues.
These drawings are based upon the Anatomy slide set, and will therefore differ from the Virtual slide box images, though basic tissue structure will be the same.
This program is another virtual slidebox with unlabelled and labelled images.
An excellent Histology resource by Lutz Slomianka (UWA) with useful short notes and tissue images, both labelled and unlabelled.
Epithelia and Glands
| Skin
| Connective Tissue
| Lymph Node
| Cartilage
| Hyaline Cartilage
| Bone
| Muscle
| Nervous
Histology notes and images prepared by John D. Soule, PhD, USC School of Dentistry
USC Histology |
Epithelium |
Connective Tissue |
Muscle |
Nerve
Histology notes and images prepared by John A. McNulty, Ph.D., Loyola University Medical Education Network. LUMEN
Histology notes and images prepared by Milton Wolf and Marc Scarbrough, University of Kansas Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. JayDoc
These 2 Cell Biology textbooks have only a few direct references to histolog of tissues.
NCBI
MBoC | Publisher (Garland) MBoC
Image: A stained tissue section
Image: Epithelial defenses against microbial invasion
Image: The development of a long bone
Image: Bone Marrow
Cell Biology of Infection
NCBI
MCB | Publisher
(Freeman) MCB
Image: Principal types of epithelium
Search NIH Medlineplus Type the word that you would like to find. If unsure of spelling, type the first few letters, followed by an asterisk(*).
cartilage (Latin = gristle) a connective tissue which forms a "template" in the embryo for later replacement by bone. Ther are several forms of cartilage, and it remains on the surface of joints and other locations (trachea, ear, nose). Web search- cartilage
cilium (Latin = eyelid) from the hairlike appearance of a cilium; plural, cilia. Web search- cilia
collagen (Greek = >kolla = glue + gennan = to produce) major secreted extracellular matrix protein, which forms an insoluble fibrous component of almost all connective tissue. Web search- collagen
dermis (Greek = skin) The middle connective tissue layer of skin which has from outside inward: epidermis (epithelium), dermis (connective tissue), hypodermis (connective tissue). Web search- dermis
endothelium a simple squamous epithelium lining blood vessels and heart. Web search- endothelium
fascia (Latin = a band, bandage) a fibrous membrane covering and supporting muscles. Web search- fascia
fascicle a small bundle Web search- fascicle
hyaline cartilage blue/white cartilage consisting of cells embedded in an avascular matrix, found covering bone joint surfaces and respiratory passage. Web search- hyaline cartilage
keratin an intermediate filament protein of the cell cytoskeleton that is tough, fibrous and insoluble. It is the chief component that makes up skin, hair, and nails. External epithelia are keratinized, while internal epithelia are often non-keratinized. Web search- keratin
Meissner's corpuscle named after German anatomist and physiologist Georg Meissner (1829-1905), touch sensory organ in skin consisting of flattened nerve terminations. Web search- Meissner's corpuscle
microvilli projections from epithelial cells apical surface that increase the available surface area for important transport and enzymatic activity functions. Web search- microvilli
reticular fiber (Latin = resembling a net) connective tissue fibers which stain with silver. They form the reticular framework of: lymphoid, myeloid, interstitial tissue (of glandular organs), papillary layer of skin, large blood vessels and elsewhere. Web search- reticular fiber
Schwann cell named after German microscopist Theodor Schwann (1810-1882), a glial cell of the peripheral nervous system, the cell surrounds nerve axons and aids neural conduction. The 2 main cell classes of the nervous system are neurons and glia. Web search- schwann cell
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Schwann.htmlsquamous (Latin = a scale) as in fish or reptile therfore scale-like or flat. Web search- squamous
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Hi There! As part of your foundations course I will be giving you a Laboratory to introduce you to cells and tissues. The Practical 10 notes cover all the material we will be looking at in class.
Dont forget to come back to this page later, as content is still being added. See you in the Lab!
As you work your way through these basic tissues, think about their embryonic origins from the 3 embryonic layers:
Ectoderm- epithelia, nervous
Mesoderm- connective tissue, muscle
Endoderm- epithelia
Please email Dr Mark Hill if you wish to make a comment about this current project.
