Lab 1: Light Microscopy, Cellular Organization, and Mitosis

Vocabulary flashcards covering light microscopy, staining techniques, planes of section, cellular organelles, and stages of mitosis based on the V542 Lab #1 manual.

Hematoxylin

A basic dye used in histological staining that binds to acidic (basophilic, negatively charged) components of the cell, staining them blue or purple.

Eosin

An acidic dye used in histological staining that binds to basic (acidophilic, positively charged) structures, staining them pink.

Silver Staining

A staining technique useful in the study of nervous and other tissues, particularly for demonstrating cell processes.

Mallory Trichrome Staining

A stain composed of aniline blue, acid fuchsin, and orange G used to distinguish intracellular versus extracellular components, staining collagen fibers an intense blue.

Histological Artifacts

Flaws introduced during slide preparation that should not be interpreted as normal tissue features, including tissue cracking, postmortem degeneration, knife marks, shrinkage, precipitates, dust, and folds.

Light Microscope Anatomy

The structural setup of a light microscope consisting of components such as the ocular lens (eyepiece), body tube, revolving nosepiece, objectives, stage, stage clips, diaphragm, light source, coarse adjustment knob, fine adjustment knob, arm, and base.

Three-Dimensional Interpretation of Two-Dimensional Images

The conceptual visualization of 3D anatomical structures (like eggs, curved ducts, or coiled glands) based on the appearance of 2D tissue sections.

Planes of Tissue Sectioning

The orientation in which tissue is cut for microscopic examination, classified as longitudinal, cross, or oblique sections.

Nucleus

A double membrane-bound large structure containing chromatin and chromosomes (DNA) that store the genetic blueprint for every protein in the body.

Nuclear Envelope

A double lipid bilayer containing nuclear pore complexes that separates and mediates transport between the nucleus and cytoplasm.

Nucleolus

A dense non-membrane-bound structure in the nucleus responsible for ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome assembly.

Ribosomes

Small structures, either free in cytoplasm or bound to endoplasmic reticulum, consisting of two subunits of ribosomal RNA that perform protein synthesis via peptide bond formation using mRNA as a template.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (rER)

An extensive membrane system associated with ribosomes that functions in the modification and folding of proteins.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (sER)

An extensive membrane system without associated ribosomes that functions in the synthesis of lipids.

Golgi Apparatus

Stacks of flattened membrane-bound cisternae responsible for final assembly, glycosylation, and dispatch of proteins to their ultimate destinations.

Mitochondria

Double membrane-bound organelles with a folded inner membrane that produce energy mainly in the form of ATP.

Plasma Membrane

A lipid bilayer containing intrinsic proteins and an external carbohydrate coat that divides the cell from the external environment and mediates external interactions.

Cytoskeleton

A network of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules that maintains cell shape and orientation, and handles cell movement, organelle movement, and chromosome movement during division.

Transport/Secretory Vesicles

Membrane-bound vesicles, often coated with proteins like COP I or clathrin, that transport materials between cell compartments and to the plasma membrane for export.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound vesicles containing hydrolytic enzymes that function in killing pathogenic organisms in phagocytic cells and degrading waste products.

Peroxisomes

Membrane-bound vesicles containing oxidases and catalase responsible for hydrogen peroxide production, detoxification, $\beta$-oxidation of long chain fatty acids, and synthesis of bile acids in the liver.

Lipid Droplets

Non-membrane-bound spherical aggregates of lipid of variable size used for energy storage.

Glycogen Granules

Non-membrane-bound granules and aggregates of granules (rosettes) used for energy storage.

Lipofuscin

A brown pigment in the cytoplasm that acts as a waste product.

Melanin

A brown pigment located in the cytoplasm that functions in skin pigmentation.

Animal Cell Organelles

The general cellular organization of an animal cell showing spatial relationships between organelles including the nucleus, nucleolus, rER, sER, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and centrosome.

IPMAT

A quick memory aid standing for the sequential stages of cell division: Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase.

Prophase

The phase of mitosis in which loosely coiled replicated chromosomes condense and spindle fibers begin to appear.

Prometaphase

The mitotic phase characterized by the breakdown of the nuclear membrane, condensation of chromosomes, and attachment of spindle fibers to chromosomes.

Metaphase

The stage of mitosis where condensed chromosomes align along the equator of the cell.

Anaphase

The phase of mitosis during which centromeres divide and sister chromatids move to opposite poles of the cell.

Telophase and Cytokinesis

The final stage of cell division where the nuclear membrane reforms, chromosomes decondense, spindle fibers disappear, and the cytoplasm divides to produce 2 daughter cells with identical genetic information.

Mitotic Series Giemsa (HP)

High-power microscopic slide representation of human/animal cells prepared with Giemsa stain showing sequential stages of mitosis from Interphase through G1 phase.