HISTOLOGY IMAGE GALLERY
A simple copyright free pictorial gallery of normal human and animal tissues and organs aimed at undergraduate
medical, dental, health science and biological science students
• Epithelia
• Connective Tissue
• Bone & Cartilage
• Blood
• Muscular Tissue
• Nervous Tissue
• Sense Organs
• Lymphoid Tissues
• Skin
• Respiratory System
• Cardiovascular System
• Alimentary Tract
• Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder
• Tongue, lip, Salivary Glands
• Endocrine Glands
• Urinary System
• Male Reproductive System
• Female Reproductive System
Introduction
Acknowledgements
Quiz
Mike Mahon & Jan Wyatt
© 1999-2010 Universities of Keele and Manchester, UK
(Last updated 9 September 2010) 3g
HISTOLOGY IMAGE GALLERY
A simple copyright free pictorial gallery of normal human and animal tissues and organs aimed at undergraduate
medical, dental, health science and biological science students
INTRODUCTION
This resource contains images scanned from film transparencies of
light micrographs of normal histology slides which Medical, Dental,
Health Science, and Bioscience students at Manchester and Keele
Universities have used during histology practical classes in
multiuser laboratories since 1976.
The package is designed as a visual supplement to histology
courses for single users or as an aid to group discussion with or
without a tutor. Each topic section should take about 20 minutes of
study time.
Each screen contains an image with a short description or
comment. As in all histological study, consider where the section is
from, what is shown in the section and which basic cell or tissue
types are present, and of course what the tissue does, remember: Structure - Function – Location !
Observe and you will See !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Picture & Text Sources: John Dixon, Philip Harris, Mike Mahon, Jan
Wyatt
Web Authoring & Digitising: Catriona Rennie, Philip Bentley, Laura
Messenger, Mike Mahon, Jan Wyatt
Usage: Worldwide Copyright & License free to use, store, network,
dissasemble, for non commercial purposes. Please acknowledge.
Mike Mahon & Jan Wyatt
© 1999-2010 Universities of Keele and Manchester, UK
EPITHELIA
• One of the four basic tissue types from which all organs are constructed
• Characterised largely by the shape and organisation of its cells
• LINING / COVERING epithelia forms layers lying on a basement membrane
• Simple: a single layer of squamous, cuboidal or columnar cells designed to allow for
diffusion of substances through it or for filtration or absorption.
Surfaces may be modified with microvilli or cilia
• Stratified: multiple layers, designed for protection and replacement
named according to the shape of the cells in the surface layer
(See this section and also Skin, Alimentary, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Reproductive topics)
Wikimedia
Commons
• GLANDULAR epithelia secrete mucus, enzymes or hormones
• Exocrine: glands with ducts to pass secretions locally
• Endocrine: ductless glands which secrete into blood vessels
(For glands see: Liver, Pancreas, Salivary, Endocrine, Reproductive topics)
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EPITHELIA
1. Simple squamous
As seen in Bowman’s
capsule of the kidney
glomerulus.
Q. What is its function
here?
Q. Simple squamous
epithelium is present at
two other locations in
this micrograph -where?
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4
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16a
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EPITHELIA
2. Simple squamous
Endothelium lining blood
vessels and lymphatics.
Q. Identify three
occurrences here.
Q. What is its function
here?
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2
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4
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16a
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EPITHELIA
3. Simple squamous
Mesothelium covering
organs, e.g. pleura over
lungs (pictured),
pericardium over heart,
peritoneum covering
parts of the intestines.
Q. What is its role here?
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4
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16a
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EPITHELIA
4. Simple squamous
A sheet of mesothelium
from the mesentery
viewed ‘face on’ to show
the cell outlines which
have been stained with
silver.
Q. What is its function
here?
Q. What holds the cells
together?
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EPITHELIA
5. Simple cuboidal
These cells line the
tubules of the nephrons
and collecting ducts in
the kidneys.
Q. How does their role
compare and differ to
that of the simple
squamous cells in the
glomerulus (Image 1)?
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EPITHELIA
6. Simple cuboidal
This a glandular
epithelium forming the
surface of a thyroid
follicle. It lies on a
basement membrane
and is in close proximity
to numerous capillaries.
Q. These cells have a
complex glandular
function. What do they
do?
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EPITHELIA
7. Simple columnar
From the gallbladder.
Q. Identify the ‘brush
border’ (microvilli) at the
apices of these cells.
Q. What is the function
of this epithelium here?
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EPITHELIA
8. Simple columnar
This epithelium from the
villi of the small intestine
has an absorptive,
digestive and secertory
function.
Q. Identify the ‘brushborder’.
Q. What are the darker
staining flask-shaped
cells?
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EPITHELIA
9. Simple columnar
These simple columnar
ciliated cells line the
uterine (Fallopian) tubes.
Q. Identify these cells.
Q. What is their function
here?
Q. Suggest another
location for cells of this
type.
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EPITHELIA
10. Stratified
squamous keratinised
From the skin of the
hand.
Q. Identify as many
layers as you can.
Q. What is its function
here?
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EPITHELIA
11. Stratified
squamous keratinized
High-power of previous
image. Note the various
cell shapes, some show
a ‘prickly’ surface.
Q. What do the spiny
‘prickles’ represent?
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EPITHELIA
12. Stratified
squamous nonkeratinized
From the oesophagus.
Q. What is its function
here?
Q. Identify the various
layers.
Q. Where else does this
type of epithelium occur?
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3
4
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EPITHELIA
13. Stratified columnar
Lining the large duct of a
salivary gland.
Q. What is its function
here?
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4
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EPITHELIA
14. Stratified
transitional
Located in the lining of
the urinary tract
(urothelium), this
epithelium shows
variable shapes of its
surface cells depending
on the degree of stretch.
Q. What other properties
does this epithelium
have in order to carry
out its role in the urinary
tract?
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3
4
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EPITHELIA
15. Pseudo-stratified
ciliated columnar
Lining of the upper
respiratory tract.
Q. Why is it called
pseudo-stratified?
Q. Why do these cells
have cilia?
Q. What are the pale
cells interspersed in the
epithelium?
Q. Can you identify a
second type of
epithelium here?
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EPITHELIA
16. Pseudo-stratified
ciliated columnar
Same as previous image
but from a thinner (1µm
thick) plastic section
showing more detail.
Note the pseudostratification of this
simple epithelium.
Q. Identify cilia, nuclei,
mitochondria, mucus.
Q. What is its function
here?
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EPITHELIA
16a. Pseudo-stratified
ciliated columnar
Separated cells from the
respiratory epithelium
shown in the previous
two slides.
Note the luminal cilia
and basal processes.
Q. What is the function
of these cells?
Q. To what do the basal
processes attach?
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Next Topic ►
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16a
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
• One of the four basic tissue types from which all organs are constructed
Characterised by the major cell type present and especially the extracellular matrix
• Cells: highly variable (e.g. fibrocytes, adipocytes, mast cells, chondrocytes, osteocytes).
Developing and active cells are –blasts. (See also Blood and Immune Defence/Lymphoid cells)
• Matrix: highly variable, usually comprises fibrous and amorphous gel components
• Loose connective tissues form packing between other tissues and between organs
• Areolar: variety of cells in scant fibrous and fluid matrix; abundant
• Adipose: dominant cell is the adipocyte; found under skin and around some organs
• Fibrous: dominant matrix fibre is collagen; strong, often surrounds organs
• Elastic: dominant matrix fibre is elastin; elastic, often around tubes
• Reticular: dominant matrix fibre is reticulin; branched fibre cradling loose cells
• Dense connective tissues usually provide protection and support
• Irregular: withstand forces in various directions (e.g. dermis)
• Regular: withstand forces in specific direction (e.g. tendon)
• Specialised Dense connective tissues include cartilage and bone
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(See topic: Bone & Cartilage)
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
17. Primitive
mesenchymal C.T.
The cells have
processes which appear
to connect with those of
neighbouring cells so
forming a sponge like
structure.
Q. From which
embryonic germ layer
does this tissue arise?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
18. Primitive
mesenchyme showing
condensation
The closely packed
nuclei are probably
developing into an area
which will become a
dense mass of
connective tissue. Mitotic
figures will also occur in
these condensed areas
as cells proliferate.
Q. Where might you see
this in an embryo?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
19. Dense irregular
fibrous C.T.
The nuclei are fibrocyte
nuclei. The pink staining
material is collagen.
Q. Why is the collagen
arranged in this manner?
Q. Give an example
location of this tissue in
the body.
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
20. Dense regular C.T.
Human tendon in
longitudinal section.
The long thin cells are
fibrocytes.
Q. Why is the collagen
arranged in this manner?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
20a. Dense regular C.T.
Human tendon in cross
section.
Compare to previous
image.
Q. The investing layers
of looser connective are
called epitendineum,
peritendineum and
endotendineum. Where
do they lie?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
21. Loose areolar C.T.
Identify the very active
fibroblasts in this healing
wound.
Note the rich vascular
supply and presence of
numerous leucocytes.
Q. How do these
fibroblasts compare to
the fibrocytes in image
20 (Tendon L.S.)?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
22. Loose areolar C.T.
Another example of
Identify active fibroblasts
in a healing wound.
Note the rich vascular
supply and presence of
numerous leucocytes.
Q. Which features of the
nuclei and cytoplasm are
indicative of activity?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
23. Loose areolar C.T.
Elastic fibres in spread
of loose areolar
(subcutaneous) tissue.
Q. How do elastic fibres
differ from collagen
fibres?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
24. Elastic tissue
Identify the thin internal
and thick external layers
of darkly stained elastic
fibres in the wall of this
artery.
Q. What is its function
here?
Q. Which cell type
produces this material?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
25. Elastic tissue
Elastic fibres are tightly
arranged in multiple
fenestrated sheets in the
wall of the aorta close to
the lumen.
Q. What is its function
here?
Q. What happens to this
material on ageing?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
26. Elastic tissue
Elastic fibres (stained
black here) are
prominent in the lungs
and are especially
noticeable towards the
edges.
Q. Why is this tissue
prominent here?
Q. What will be the
difference in a lung from
an elderly person?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
27. Reticular tissue
A web of highly
branched reticular fibres
(stained black) is clearly
visible in this lymph node
from which most of the
lymphocytes have been
washed away.
Note - some large pale
granular cells are also
visible.
Q. What is the function
of the reticulin and
associated reticuloendothelial cells here?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
28. Collagen
The red staining shows
the presence of collagen
fibres in the layer
between the epithelium
and muscle in this
section of the wall of the
small intestine.
Van Gieson stain.
Q. What is the role of
this connective tissue
layer?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
29. Adipose tissue
In this section of tissue
embedded in paraffin
wax the fat has been lost
leaving each cell as an
unstained region
surrounded by
cytoplasm and a nucleus
(‘cygnet ring’ shape).
Q. Name two body sites
where you might find an
abundance of this tissue.
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
30. Adipocytes
Fat cells in a spread of
mesentery (stained with
Oil Red 0 - a fat soluble
dye). Note their size
compared to other cells.
Q. What preparative
technique has been
used to preserve the fat
content here compared
to that in the previous
image (29)?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
31. Loose areolar C.T.
Macrophages in
subcutaneous tissue
previously injected with a
carbon suspension.
Q. The macrophages
contain large quantities
of carbon particles in
their cytoplasm - Why?
Q. What other cells and
matrix components can
you see here?
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CONNECTIVE TISSUE
32. Loose areolar C.T.
Mast cells (granules
stained red) lie close to a
blood vessel.
Q. What is the role of
mast cells?
Q. What do mast cells
contain in their
granules?
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Next Topic ►
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End of Images
Quit