Histology Laboratories
Molecules to Systems
2003
Compiled by
James D. Jamieson, MD/PhD
Thomas L. Lentz, MD
No part of this image collection may be distributed outside of the
Yale University Intranet.
Acknowledgements
Sources of Micrographs, Diagrams and Figures
Alberts, B. et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th Edition, Garland Science, New
York, 2002.
Gartner, L. P. and Hiatt, J. L. Color Atlas of Histology, Williams & Wilkins,
Baltimore, 1994.
Kerr, J. B. Atlas of Functional Histology. Mosby, London, 1999.
Kessel, R. G. and Kardon, R. H. Tissues and Organs: a text-atlas of scanning
electron microscopy. W. H. Freeman, San Francisco, 1979.
Lentz, T. L. Cell Fine Structure. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1971.
Lodish, H. et al. Molecular Cell Biology. W. H. Freeman, New York, 2000.
Mizoguti, H. Color Slide Atlas of Histology. Nihon Shashin Shinbunsha, Tokyo.
Young, B. and Heath, J. W. Wheater’s Functional Histology. Churchill
Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2000.
Micrographs taken by George Palade, Marilyn Farquhar, James D. Jamieson,
Nicolai Simionescu, Maya Simionescu, David Castle, Thomas L. Lentz.
Web Resources
http://info.med.yale.edu/webpath/webpath.htm
Cushing Library Educational Software/Cell Biology/Several Histology Resources
Epithelium Laboratory
Classification of epithelia
- By layers
Simple: single layer of cells.
Stratified: two or more layers of cells; only the first layer
attached to basement membrane (e.g, skin).
Pseudostratifed: nuclei appear at different levels; all attached to
basement membrane but not all reach cell surface (e.g.,
bladder).
- By shape
Squamous: flattened, plate-like (e.g, endothelia, mesothelia).
Cuboidal: as tall as they are wide (duct linings).
Columnar: taller than wider. Found in epithelia specialized for
absorption, secretion; surface specializations for motility.
Simple Epithelia
Endothelial cell nuclei
Mesothelial cells
Kidney Collecting Ducts: XS
Kidney Collecting Ducts; LS
Intestinal epithelium with
Brush border = microvilli
Pseudostratified Epithelia
Respiratory Epithelum with Cilia
Stratified Epithelia
Non Keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium.
(vagina or esophagus)
Str. corneum
Str. granulosum
Str. spinosum
Melanocytes
Stratum germinativum
(basale)
Keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Dermal ridge
Transitional epithelium
Relaxed Urinary Bladder
Gland Classification
&
Secretion Modes
Surface Specializations 1
Microvilli:
LM: brush border as on intestinal epithelial cells. Reflects
actin cores of microvilli seen by EM.
EM: protrusions of apical plasma membrane from epithelial
cells with an actin core. Vastly increases surface area for
digestion and absorption.
Brush border
Terminal bars
(Junctional complexes)
Terminal web
Intestinal epithelium with
brush border = microvilli
Microvilli LS; EM
Microvilli XS; EM
Surface Specializations 2
Cilia and flagella:
LM: typical of apical surface of pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium of respiratory tract. Involved in
moving goobers up the airway and in moving fertilized
ovum down oviduct.
EM: core of 9 + 2 microtubules responsible for whipping
action of cilia. Flagella have same structure as cilia but are
found singly on cells as in sperm.
Cilia
Garbage in airway
Cillia XS
Cillia LS
Respiratory Epithelium ; EM
Cillia XS; EM