This is a longitudinal section of the junction of the esophagus (right side of the slide) and the stomach (left side of the slide) and has excellent examples of many of the tissues studied thus far (except skeletal muscle, cartilage and bone)

• simple columnar epithelium
• stratified squamous epithelium, non-keratinized
• smooth muscle
• both loose (cellular) CT and dense irregular CT
• simple squamous epithelium (endothelium lining blood vessels and mesothelium of serosa of the stomach)
• peripheral nerves and ganglia
• adipose tissue

Webslide 0301_A: Fetal Finger
[DigitalScope]

• stratified squamous epithelium keratinized
• cartilage
• dense irregular CT (under epithelium)
• bone
• adipose tissue (unilocular)

UMich Slide 265: Nipple, Human, H&E
[DigitalScope]

• stratified squamous keratinized epithelium
• stratified cuboidal epithelium (ducts and sebaceous glands)
• smooth muscle
• nerve
• dense irregular connective tissue

UMich slide 250-1: Vagina, Human, H&E
[DigitalScope]

• stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium
• dense irregular connective tissue
• smooth muscle
• adipose tissue
• nerve
• parasympathetic ganglia

UMich slide 250-2: Vagina, Human, Masson trichrome
[DigitalScope]

Same as slide 250-1 above, but this slide is stained with trichrome in which connective tissue and nerve stain BLUE; muscle and epithelia stain RED 

Example of Possible Exam Format:

Some students wonder about the format of the histology practical exam.  The following illustrates a method that we have used in the past, where we label several tissues or cells (“A”, “B”, “C”, etc.) on a webslide of an organ.  Using the virtual microscope, the student examines the section and is then asked to identify a specific cell or tissue type and provide a brief list (i.e. 3-4 items) of CHARACTERISTIC structural features that support your identification.  (You are NOT required to identify the organ, which we will cover in subsequent histology sessions).

Sample Practical Exam

WebSlide 0093 has been annotated with regions of interest in which there are cells and/or tissues you will be asked to identify. To see the list of the regions of interest, click the "Regions of Interest" list icon on the toolbar and then select the desired region of interest from the list that pops up.For each of the following questions, identify each tissue or cell type as specifically as possible, and justify this identification with a concise description.

Be sure to list the characteristic structural features that distinguish this specific cell or tissue from other cells or tissues. You may use "negative criteria" (e.g. the absence of a feature that helps rule OUT other cells or tissues), but if you do so you should clearly explain which cells/tissues are ruled out by the absence of that feature.

Change magnifications and scan around the area to get as much helpful information as possible to aid in these identifications. You may also wish to use the ruler tool and include dimensions of cellular features in your description(s).

1. Identify as specifically as possible the tissue indicated by arrow in region “A.” Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):

2. Identify as specifically as possible the tissue indicated by arrow in region “B.” Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):

3. Identify as specifically as possible the tissue indicated by arrow in region “C.” Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):

 

 

4. Identify as specifically as possible the predominant tissue within region “D.” Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):

5. Identify as specifically as possible the tissue indicated by arrow in region “E.” Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):

6. Identify as specifically as possible the tissue enclosed within region“F.” Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue/structure (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):

7. Identify as specifically as possible the structure indicated by the arrow in region “G” (and outlined by the dotted yellow line in this screenshot). Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue/structure (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):

8. Identify as specifically as possible the predominant tissue enclosed within region“H” (and outlined by the dotted yellow line in this screenshot). Provide at least THREE characteristic structural features that support your identification. (5 points)

Tissue (2 points):

Three characteristic features of the tissue (1 point each):