School of Medicine

Basic histology content questions

A. Cytology, Methods and Epithelia (1-15) Syllabus

1. Diagram the structure of biological membranes remembering that intracellular membranes have the same type of structure seen in the plasma membrane. Illustrate four processes that occur at plasma membranes. Syllabus Answer

2. Diagram and label features associated with a mitochondrion. Syllabus Answer

3. Trace, with a diagram, the formation of a primary lysosome beginning with peptide synthesis. What are ribosomes and polyribosomes? How do attached and free polysomes differ in function? Syllabus Answer

4. Diagram a nucleus and its envelope indicating the function of each component. Name the phases of the mitotic cycle. What is pyknosis? Syllabus Answer

5. Describe the molecular composition of microtubules and actin filaments. How do they serve the cell activities? Syllabus Answer

6. What are cytoplasmic inclusions? Describe their structure and explain their function. Syllabus Answer

7. What are the basic steps in preparing a tissue for microscopic examination? Answer

8. What are the components of a routine histological stain? What are their chemical characteristics and what do they stain? What stains are used to demonstrate polysaccharides, elastic fibers and reticular fibers? Answer

9. What is a tissue? What are the fundamental characteristics of the four basic tissue types? In which of these is cell renewal an important process? Syllabus Answer

10. How are surface epithelia classified? Diagram examples of each. Syllabus Answer

11. Compare and contrast glandular epithelia with surface epithelia. Diagram the cytology of a serous acinar cell. Syllabus Answer

12. Make a drawing(s) that illustrates how epithelial cells are attached to each other and to supporting tissue. Syllabus Answer

13. Illustrate the structure of microvilli and cilia; how do they differ in function? How are they anchored in the cytoplasm? Syllabus Answer

14. Recall and define 13 terms that are used to describe and explain the structure and function of exocrine glands. Syllabus Answer

15. The submandibular gland is an example of a compound tubulo-alveolar gland. Explain what that means and make a line drawing illustrating 5 features that characterize such a gland. What are myoepithelial cells? Syllabus Answer

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B. Integument (16-21) Syllabus

16. Diagram the features seen in an histological section of thin skin. Discuss the structure and function of cells found in thin skin epidermis. Syllabus Answer

17. Describe the layers of thick skin epidermis. Syllabus Answer

18. Describe the layers of the dermis. What is a glomus (arteriovenous shunt)? Explain the innervation of skin. Answer

19. Make a line drawing illustrating the histology of the external ear (pinna). Answer

20. Make a line drawing illustrating the histology of the eyelid. Answer

21. Make a line drawing illustrating the histology of the mammary gland; lactating and inactive. Answer

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C. Connective Tissue (22-28) Syllabus

22. Compare and contrast the structure of epithelia and connective tissues. What is the composition of ground substances of connective tissues? Diagram the structure of glycosaminoglycans. What is the function of ground substances? Syllabus Answer

23. Diagram the molecular events (intra- and extracellular) in the formation of collagen. Syllabus Answer

24. Identify the distribution of four types of collagen. Identify two components of elastic fibers. Syllabus Answer

25. Describe the components and functional relationships of the fibers and cells in dense regular connective tissue; in irregular connective tissue. Syllabus Answer

26. Describe the cytology in relation to the function of macrophages. Syllabus Answer

27. Describe the cytology in relation to the function of plasma cells. Describe the cytology in relation to the function of mast cells. Syllabus Answer

28. Diagram and label the components of hyaline cartilage. How are elastic and fibrocartilage different? Syllabus Answer

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D. Bone (29-36) Syllabus

29. Make a cross sectional drawing of compact bone illustrating the lamellar organization and vascular supply and coverings. What is a cement or reversal line? Answer

30. Diagram the cytology of osteoblasts and osteocytes. What is their source and function? Syllabus Answer

31. Diagram the cytology of an osteoclast. Identify three events that must take place for osteoclasts to perform their function. What is the source of osteoclasts? Syllabus Answer

32. Illustrate the structure of trabecular bone. Diagram remodeling in trabecular bone. Diagram a remodeling site in compact bone. Syllabus Answer

33. Illustrate the structure of a synovial joint including the attachments of joint capsule, ligaments and tendons to bone. Answer

34. Using diagrams explain the process of endochondral bone formation. Syllabus Answer

35. Describe intramembranous bone formation. Describe two bones that are formed in that way. How does a long bone grow in length? In diameter? Differentiate between red and yellow marrow. What other name is given to red marrow? Syllabus Answer

36. Explain the difference between lamellar and woven bone. Where are these found? Differentiate between modeling and remodeling in both compact and trabecular bone. Answer

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E. Lymphoid Tissue (37-47) Syllabus

37. Name two general classes of lymphocytes. Diagram their morphology as they usually appear in the circulation. What are their concentrations in peripheral blood? What are their sources? Answer

38. Using diagrams outline the process of lymphocyte activation and its consequences. Syllabus Answer

39. Describe two different functions of macrophages. What names have been given to the system of macrophages throughout the body? Syllabus Answer

40. Describe three different morphological manifestations of lymphoid tissue associated with mucous membranes. What is a lymph nodule? Syllabus Answer

41. Using diagrams describe the locations and morphological differences between the tonsils. Syllabus Answer

42. What are epithelial lymphocytes? Where are they found and where are they most numerous? What are "M" cells? Where are they found and what is their function? Answer

43. What is lymph? What is its source and destination? Name and describe the channels through which it passes. Answer

44. Diagram a lymph node naming its various parts. Syllabus Answer

45. Diagram two paths followed by T lymphocytes as they leave and reenter the blood. Syllabus Answer

46. Diagram the spleen naming its various parts. Identify two functions of the spleen. Syllabus Answer

47. Diagram the thymus naming its various parts. What is the function of the thymus? Describe its stroma indicating its origin. Syllabus Answer

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F. Muscle Histology (48-52) Syllabus

48. Diagram a skeletal muscle myofiber as seen with the light microscope, not electron microscope. Diagram the organization of myofibers into skeletal muscles. Answer

49. Diagram a skeletal muscle myofiber as seen with the electron microscope. Syllabus Answer

50. Diagram a cardiac myocyte as seen with the light microscope. How is its fine structure different from that of skeletal muscle? Syllabus Answer

51. Diagram a smooth muscle fiber including its innervation and control. Syllabus Answer

52. Diagram a skeletal muscle motor unit and a neuromuscular junction. What is the relationship between a motor unit and a muscle fascicle? Syllabus Answer

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G. Respiratory System (53-59) Syllabus

53. Diagram the different cell types found in pseudostratified columnar epithelium that line the respiratory tract. Syllabus Answer

54. Diagram the olfactory mucosa. Syllabus Answer

55. Diagram and name the parts of the epiglottis. Also illustrate its relationship to the tongue, pharynx and esophagus. Syllabus Answer

56. Illustrate the structure of the larynx as seen in the frontal plane naming its component parts. Classify each type of tissue found in this organ. Syllabus Answer

57. Diagram the histology of the trachea and primary bronchi. Syllabus Answer

58. Illustrate the structure of the lung lobule including the blood vessels that serve it. Syllabus Answer

59. Make a line drawing illustrating the fine structure of the alveolus. Syllabus Answer

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H. Blood (60-64) Syllabus

60. Define plasma, serum, hematocrit, buffy coat, myeloid tissue, stem cell, hemopoiesis. Syllabus Answer

61. Describe the mature erythrocyte and its concentration in peripheral blood. Diagram its formation. Syllabus Answer

62. What is the life span and the normal fate of erythrocytes? How does the body respond to the loss of 500 ml of blood? Syllabus Answer

63. Diagram the structure of each of the blood granulocytes. Indicate their function and concentration in blood. Outline the stages of their differentiation. Syllabus Answer

64. Illustrate the morphology of lymphocytes, monocytes and platelets. What are their concentrations in blood and their functions. Syllabus Answer

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I. Cardiovascular system (65-72) Syllabus

65. Diagram the microvasculature naming the vessels traversed in passing from arteries to veins. Use the diagram to explain the origin and fate of lymph. Syllabus Answer

66. Diagram the morphology of 3 types of microvessels and give one location of each type. Syllabus Answer

67. Explain the function of each type of microvessel. Give two mechanisms for fluid movement across capillaries. Syllabus Answer

68. Diagram the morphology of a muscular artery. Syllabus Answer

69. How do elastic arteries differ from muscular arteries? Explain how large blood vessels are nourished. How do veins differ from arteries? Syllabus Answer

70. Use diagrams to compare and contrast the histology of the walls of the atria and ventricles of the heart. Syllabus Answer

71. Describe the histology of the heart valves. What is the role and composition of the tissue that surrounds the base of the valves? Diagram and label the components of the pericardial sac and the epicardium. Show them in relationship to each other. Answer

72. Diagram the impulse generating and conducting system of the heart. Describe the histology of each component. Syllabus Answer

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J. Oral histology (73-79) Syllabus

73. Diagram the histology of the lip. Syllabus Answer

74. Describe regional variations in the oral mucosa. Explain the role of minor salivary glands in the oral mucosa. Syllabus Answer

75. Diagram the histology of the soft palate. What is metaplasia? Syllabus Answer

76. Describe the histology of the tongue. Illustrate the structure and distribution of filiform, fungiform and circumvalate papillae. Syllabus Answer

77. Compare and contrast the histology of the parotid, submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. What are striated ducts? Illustrate their cytology. Syllabus Answer

78. Diagram the structure of a mature tooth. Syllabus Answer

79. Diagram the structure of a developing tooth at the appositional stage. Explain the interactions of the dental organ and the dental papilla that lead to the differentiation of odontoblasts and ameloblasts. Syllabus Answer

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K. Gastrointestinal System (80-94) Syllabus

80. Make a diagram that illustrates the histology of the esophagus. Indicate the classification of the type of tissue composing each of the components. Syllabus Answer

81. Diagram the histology of the full thickness of the stomach wall showing the relationship of the gastric glands to its components. Syllabus Answer

82. Illustrate the histology of a fundic gland of the stomach explaining how its secretions reach the lumen of the stomach. Syllabus Answer

83. Illustrate the histology of a pyloric gland of the stomach explaining how its secretions reach the lumen of the stomach. Syllabus Answer

84. Illustrate the fine structure of the gastric chief cell. What is its function? Syllabus Answer

85. Illustrate the fine structure of the parietal cell. Illustrate the fine structure of the argentaffin cell. What are their functions? Syllabus Answer

86. Illustrate the fine structure of a gastric lining cell. What is its function? Syllabus Answer

87. What are the major differences that are seen in the transitions from the esophagus to the stomach and from the stomach to the duodenum? Syllabus Answer

88. Diagram the histology of the small intestine identifying the differences that characterize the duodenum and the ileum. Syllabus Answer

89. Diagram in detail an intestinal villus and gland naming the cells that compose these structures and identifying the villus contents. Syllabus Answer

90. Make a diagram of an enterocyte showing its relationship to neighboring cells and illustrating the absorption of fat. Syllabus Answer

91. Illustrate the structure of the large intestine noting how it differs from the small intestine. Syllabus Answer

92. Illustrate on a drawing three ways of viewing the functional unit of the liver the liver lobule. Syllabus Answer

93. Make a drawing showing the fine structure of adjacent liver cells and surrounding cells. Syllabus Answer

94. Diagram the mucosa of the gall bladder and explain its function. Diagram the pancreatic acinus, intralobular duct and islet of Langerhans. List the cells in the pancreatic islets and their secretion products. Syllabus Answer

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L. Urinary System (95-101) Syllabus

95. Diagram the features that are seen on a frontal slice of the human kidney including the major blood vessels. Syllabus Answer

96. Diagram a nephron showing the locations of its components within the renal lobe. Where does the nephron end? Syllabus Answer

97. Diagram the fine structure of a renal corpuscle and structures related to it. Syllabus Answer

98. Illustrate the fine structure of each of the tubular components of the nephron. Syllabus Answer

99. Very briefly explain the function of each of the components of the nephron. Syllabus Answer

100. Diagram the entire length of a collecting duct indicating its locations within the renal lobe. Syllabus Answer

101. Identify the characteristic features of the ureter and urinary bladder. Diagram and explain the significance of the fine structure of transitional epithelium. Syllabus Answer

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M. Endocrine System (102-109) Syllabus

102. Diagram and name the two major divisions of the pituitary gland and indicate and name their subdivisions. Syllabus Answer

103. Illustrate the hypophyseal portal system and explain its role in the regulation of the adenohypophysis. Syllabus Answer

104. Explain with a diagram the structure and function of the pars nervosa. What cells are found in the pars nervosa? Syllabus Answer

105. Describe and indicate the function of the cells found in the pars distalis. Syllabus Answer

106. Diagram a thyroid follicle identifying two types of endocrine cells. Explain how each type functions. Syllabus Answer

107. Show with a diagram the structure of the adrenal gland. Include its blood supply and course through the gland. Syllabus Answer

108. Describe the structure and function of the cells that comprise the parathyroid gland. Explain the function and regulation of each region of the adrenal gland. Syllabus Answer

109. Describe the cytology of the cells that are found in each region of the adrenal gland. Syllabus Answer

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N. Reproductive System (110-122) Syllabus

110. Diagram the changes that occur in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle. Syllabus Answer

111. Illustrate and label the components of the mature ovarian follicle. Syllabus Answer

112. Diagram the changes that occur in a recruited primordial ovarian follicle that lead to the formation of a secondary follicle. Syllabus Answer

113. Identify three features besides ovarian follicles that can be found in the ovaries of a young woman and explain their significance. Syllabus Answer

114. Describe the structure and function of the uterine tube. Syllabus Answer

115. Diagram the uterine cervix and the vagina identifying the epithelia found in each. In which epithelium does cervical cancer usually arise? Syllabus Answer

116. Illustrate the structure of the testis naming its component parts. Syllabus Answer

117. Diagram the cells that make up the epithelium of the seminiferous tubule. Syllabus Answer

118. Diagram and label the major components of the spermatozoan. Syllabus Answer

119. Describe the cells in the testis that make and those that respond to testosterone. How is testosterone production regulated? Answer

120. Describe the structure and explain the function of the epididymis. Syllabus Answer

121. List the components of the spermatic cord. Describe the vas deferens and its termination. Syllabus Answer

122. Describe the seminal vesicle and explain its function. Make a diagram that shows the relationships of the prostate gland to the urethra. Syllabus Answer

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O. Nervous System (123-136) Syllabus

123. Make a cross sectional drawing of the spinal cord in the thoracic region labeling the major gray and white matter components. Show the locations of sympathetic and somatic motor neurons. Syllabus Answer

124. Diagram three morphological types of neurons naming their component parts. Syllabus Answer

125. Using diagrams compare and contrast the structure of autonomic and sensory ganglia. Syllabus Answer

126. Illustrate the structure of a myelinated and an unmyelinated peripheral nerve fiber. Syllabus Answer

127. Show with a diagram how a peripheral nerve is organized. Syllabus Answer

128. Diagram the structure of the cerebellar cortex. Syllabus Answer

129. Illustrate the histology of the eye showing the relationships of features associated with the lens and iris and the flow of aqueous humor. Syllabus Answer

130. Diagram the layers of the retina illustrating the meaning of convergence. Describe and explain the significance of the fovea and the optic disk. Answer

131. Explain the relationship of the perilymph to the endolymph. Diagram the components of the inner ear. Syllabus Answer

132. Illustrate the components of the Organ of Corti and its relationship to the spiral ganglion. Syllabus Answer

133. Diagram the structure of a neuromuscular spindle and briefly explain its function. Explain the basis of the stretch reflex. Syllabus Answer

134. Show in a diagram the relationships of the meninges to the cerebrospinal fluid, the central nervous system and the blood. Syllabus Answer

135. Explain how the different types of synapses found in the central nervous system are named. Diagram in detail the features associated with a synapse. Syllabus Answer

136. Compare and contrast gray and white matter of the central nervous system. What are glial cells? Explain their functions. Answer

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