The following slides are of four tissue types:
Epithelial Tissue
Connective Tissue
Muscular Tissue
Nervous Tissue
Simple Squamous
Model of simple squamous
This slide shows a section of frog skin. The outermost portion of this skin is composed of a single layer
of irregularly-shaped, flat (squamous) cells, which gives the tissue its name. Note: You are viewing this
tissue section from the top!
Simple Cuboidal
Simple Cuboidal (400x)
This is a slide of section taken from the mammalian kidney showing the many tubular ducts that make up much
of this organ. The walls of these ducts (pointed to by the red arrows) are comprised of simple cuboidal
epithelial cells, which are usually six-sided in shape but may appear square from a side view. Note also the
thin wall of simple cuboidal epithelium (pointed to by the blue arrow) that forms the dorsal edge of this section.
MODEL OF SIMPLE CUBOIDAL CELLS
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIAL TISSUE
This slide is a cross section from the small intestine. Projecting into the intestinal lumen (space) are
numerous finger-like projections called villi, which function to slow the passage of food and increase the
surface area for the absorption of nutrients. The lining of these villi is a tissue layer called the mucosa, which
is made up of simple columnar epithelial cells. Interspersed among these columnar cells are goblet cells
that secrete mucus into the lumen of the intestine. During routine histological preparation, the mucus is lost,
leaving a clear or lightly stained cytoplasm. Beneath a thin, outer covering of the intestine is a thick layer of
smooth muscle cells. Peristaltic contraction of these two muscle layers keeps food moving through the
digestive tract.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Smooth muscle
smooth muscle
Simple Columnar
Goblet cell
Lumen of intestine
Simple Columnar 400x
1. Goblet cells
2. Columnar epithelial cells
3. Epithelial Cell nucleus
4. lumen of intestine
Model of simple columnar
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
This slide shows a cross section of the esophagus, the first portion of the digestive tract that
leads to the stomach. Note that the organ is lined with a many layers of cells that are referred to
collectively as stratified squamous epithelium. By convention, stratified epithelial tissues are
named by the shape of their outermost cells. Thus, although the deeper and basal layers are
composed of cuboidal and sometimes even columnar cells, those cells at the surface are
squamous (flat) in shape, giving the tissue its name
1. Stratified squamous epithelium
2. Lumen of the esophagus
3. Connective tissue
1. stratified epithelial layer
2. Outer squamous cells
3. Lumen of esophagus
PSEUDO-STRATIFIED CILIATED COLUMNAR TISSUE
1. Lumen of the trachea
2. Pseudo-stratified columnar
3. Hyaline cartilage
4. adipose tissue
This slide of a cross section of the mammalian trachea (wind pipe) contains examples of several
different kinds of tissues. The lining of the trachea consists of a type of tissue called pseudostratified (ciliated) columnar epithelium. This single layer of ciliated cells appears stratified
because the cells vary in their thickness and because their nuclei are located at different level
400 X
magnification
1. ciliated cells
2. epithelial layer
Model of Pseudo-stratified ciliated Columnar tissue
Connective Tissue
Areolar tissue
This slide shows loose (areolar) connective tissue, which is used extensively throughout
the body for fastening down the skin, membranes, vessels and nerves as well as binding
muscles and other tissues together. The tissue consists of an extensive network of fibers
secreted by cells called fibroblasts. The most numerous of these fibers are the thicker,
lightly-staining collagenous fibers. Thinner, dark-staining elastic fibers composed of the
protein elastin can also be seen.
Hyaline Cartilage:
This slide of a cross section of the mammalian trachea (wind pipe) contains examples of several different
kinds of tissues. Supporting the trachea is a ring of connective tissue called hyaline cartilage. The
chondrocytes (cartilage cells) that secrete this supporting matrix are located in spaces called lacunae.
1. Lumen of trachea
2. Psuedo-stratified epithelium
3. Hyaline cartilage
4. Adipose tissue
Hyaline Cartilage (100x)
1. Hyaline Cartilage
2. Adipose tissue
Hyaline cartilage 400X
1. Lacuna (space for cell)
2. Chondrocyte (cartilage cell)
ADIPOSE TISSUE
This slide of a cross section of the mammalian trachea (wind pipe) contains examples of several different
kinds of tissues. Also seen on this slide is an extensive area of adipose tissue, which is specialized for fat
storage. On prepared slides, the fat has been removed from the cells giving the tissue the appearance of
fish net.
1. Lumen of trachea
2. pseudo-stratified columnar
3. Hyaline cartilage
4. Adipose tissue
Adipose Tissue (100x)
1. Hyaline cartilage
2. Adipose tissue
Adipose Tissue (400X)
1. Adipose cells
2. Cell nucleus
Adipose Cells
BLOOD IS A CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Blood Cells
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CONTINUED:
BONE
This slide contains a section of dried compact bone. Note that the bone matrix is deposited in concentric
layers called lamellae. The basic unit of structure in compact bone is the osteon. In each osteon, the
lamellae are arranged around a central Haversian canal that houses nerves and blood vessels in living bone.
The osteocytes (bone cells) are located in spaces called lacunae, which are connected by slender branching
tubules called canaliculi. These "little canals" radiate out from the lacunae to form an extensive network
connecting bone cells to each other and to the blood supply.
Compact Bone
Bone (400x)
1. Haversian canal
2. lacunae (spaces that house osteocytes
CONNECTIVE TISSUE: TENDONS
This slide contains a longitudinal section of a tendon, which is composed of dense regular connective
tissue. Note the regularly arranged bundles of closely packed collagen fibers running in the same direction,
which results in flexible tissue with great resistance to pulling forces.
Dense Regular Connective Tissue
MUSCULAR TISSUE
This is a slide of a bundle of smooth muscle tissue that has been teased apart to reveal the individual cells.
Each of these spindle shaped muscle cells has a single, elongated nucleus. In most animals, smooth muscle
tissue is arranged in circular and longitudinal layers that act antagonistically to shorten or lengthen and
constrict or expand the body or organ. For an example of such an arrangement, see the two smooth
muscle layers on a cross section of mammalian gut.
1. Smooth muscle tissue
2. Smooth muscle tissue
Smooth Muscle Cells
Skeletal Muscle:
This slide shows striated skeletal muscle cells with multiple nuclei
This slide below contains a section of cardiac muscle, which is striated like skeletal muscle but well
adapted for involuntary, rhythmic contractions like smooth muscle. Each cell has only one centrally located
nucleus. Note the faintly stained transverse bands called intercalated disks (indicated by the blue arrows)
that mark the boundaries between the ends of the cells. These specialized junctional zones are unique to
cardiac muscles. The intercalated disks can also be seen in the model separating one cell from another.
Cardiac Muscle Tissue
NERVOUS TISSUE
This slide contains a smear taken from the spinal cord. Note the large, blue-staining motor neuron.
Coming off the neuron are cell processes called axons and dendrites that conduct nerve impulses away
from and toward the nerve cell body respectively. Although these processes can easily be seen on the slide,
it is not always possible to distinguish between the axon and dendrites.
Nerve Cell
1. Nerve cell body
2. Nerve cell process (dendrite and/or
axon)
Model of Neuron
1. Axon
2. Nucleus
3. Cell body
5. Dendrites