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
Urinary System Laboratory
Some Handy Abbreviations
G: glomerulus
PCT: proximal convoluted tubule
tDL: thin descending limb of Henle
tAL: thin ascending limb of Henle
TAL: thick ascending limb of Henle
DCT: distal convoluted tubule (similar to TAL)
CT: connecting/collecting tubule
CD: collecting duct
MD: macula densa
AA: afferent arteriole (in)
EA: efferent arteriole (out)
Cortex
BV
RT
G
CD
Renal Cortex and Medulla
Medulla
Vasa recta
Organization of Renal Pyramid
The Nephron
Renal Tubules
Renal Corpuscle
(Glomerulus, afferent and efferent arterioles, Bowman’s
capsule, beginning of proximal convoluted tubule)
Diagram of Renal
Corpuscle/Glomerulus
Renal Corpuscle/Glomerulus
Development of Renal Corpuscle
PCT
CD
G
DCT
Renal Corpuscles
Bowman’s space
G
PCT
Renal Corpuscles
Bowman’s capsule
parietal layer
visceral layer
MD
Vascular pole
Bowman’s capsule
parietal layer
visceral layer
G
Bowman’s space
PCT
Renal Corpuscle
Urinary pole
Podocytes
Bowman’s capsule
parietal layer
visceral layer
PCT
Bowman’s space
(urinary space)
Mesangial cells
DCT
Renal Corpuscle
Beginning of PCT
Urinary Pole of Renal Corpuscle
Glomerular Filter
Bowman’s space
Podocyte
Lumen of glomerular capillar
Foot processes of podocytes
Fenestrae
Urinary space
Glomerular BM
Fenestrated Capillaries in Glomerulus
Urinary space
FS: filtration slits
Glomerulus
Podocyte
Filtration slits
with diaphragms
Capillary space
Components of
Glomerular Filter
Urinary space
Scanning EM of Glomerulus
Foot processes
Filtration slits
Renal Tubules in Sequence
Proximal Convoluted Tubules (PCT): Epithelium: brush border;
basal infoldings
Loop of Henle: straight portion of PCT (or thick descending limb)
(TDL)>thin descending limb (tDL)>loop>thin ascending limb
(tAL)>straight portion of DCT (or thick ascending limb) (TAL)
Epithelium: Simple squamous epithelium on thin segments;
epithelium similar to PCT and DCT on thick segments
Distal Convoluted Tubule: Continuous with TAL>macula
densa>DCT
Epithelium: No brush border, numerous mitochondria
Collecting Tubule: Epithelium: cuboidal
Collecting Duct: Epithelium: cuboidal
Brush border
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
Brush border
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
M: mitochondria
Mv: microvilli of brush border
Proximal Convoluted Tubule
PCT
Vasa recta
T
T
CD
Thin Walled Tubules of Loop of Henle
VR
TAL
tL
TAL
tL
CD
Relationhship Between CD, TAL, tL and Vasa Recta (VR)
Basolateral infoldings with mitochondria
Distal Convoluted Tubule
Basolateral infoldings with mitochondria; few microvilli
Distal Convoluted Tubule
Collecting Ducts, LS
Collecting Ducts, XS
Site of urine outflow at renal papilla
Renal pelvis
Apex of Renal Pyramid
Countercurrent Multiplier
Countercurrent Multiplier
Countercurrent Multiplier
Juxtaglomerular Apparatus and Control
of Blood Pressure and Volume
JGA and Control
of Blood Pressure
Diagram of JG Apparatus
JG Apparatus
AA: afferent arteriole
J: juxtaglomerular cells
MD: macula densa
DCT: distal conv. tubule
DT
JG Apparatus: Mg, mesangial cells; P, podocyte; JC, juxtaglomerular cells
with secretory granules containing renin (arrowheads)
Ureter, Bladder and Urethra
Transitional epithelium
Smooth muscle
Ureter
Transitional epithelium
Relaxed Bladder
Distended Bladder
Male Urethra: transitional > stratified columnar epithelium
Some Pathology
Normal Glomerulus and Tubules
PAS stain for basement membrane glycoproteins.
Diabetic Kidney
PAS stain. What component of the filtration apparatus might you see altered in an EM?
Membranous Glomerulonephritis
What structure is the membranous change affecting? The next EM taken at biopsy cinches the diagnosis.
Membranous Glomerulonephritis
Where is the pathology occurring? May be linked to chronic diseases and the immune system. What might the dark blobs be?
Hint: look at the next immunofluorescence picture stained for IgG.
Minimal Change Disease
What is the most obvious change in this EM? EM is used routinely to diagnose kidney diseases.
Acute Pyelonephritis.
Where is the infection located?
Renal cortex after drinking antifreeze.
What is the main target of ethylene glycol and what might the patients’s urine show?
Transplantation Rejection
What does the histologic picture tell you about what went wrong?