Histology (BCT) Practical Exam 2 (Labs 8–13) – Tri 1 | Questions Only | High-Yield

What are the four layers of the digestive tract (from lumen outward)?

Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, serosa

What type of connective tissue is the lamina propria?

Loose connective tissue

Which layer of the alimentary canal contains epithelium?

Mucosa

Where are three layers of muscle found in the GI tract?

Stomach (includes oblique layer)

Which structure is unique to the stomach?

Oblique muscle layer

Where does most absorption occur?

Small intestine

What increases absorptive surface area in the small intestine?

Villi and microvilli

What are plicae circulares?

Circular folds that increase surface area

ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

What is another name for the enteric nervous system?

Gut brain

What does the enteric nervous system control?

GI motility and secretions

🍔 LARGE INTESTINE

What are the three unique features of the large intestine?

-Teniae coli

-haustra

- epiploic appendages

Teniae coli belong to which layer?

Muscularis externa

🧪 SALIVARY GLANDS

Which salivary gland produces the most saliva?

Submandibular gland

Which salivary gland is purely serous?

Parotid gland

What provides nonspecific immunity in saliva?

IgA and lysozyme

What does sympathetic stimulation do to saliva?

Produces small amount of saliva

Where are myoepithelial cells found?

Around acini (basal lamina of serous acinus)

🧬 PANCREAS

What do alpha cells produce?

Glucagon

What do beta cells produce?

Insulin

What does glucagon do?

Increases blood glucose

Do islets of Langerhans produce digestive enzymes?

no

🧠 LIVER

What is the function of hepatic portal circulation?

Delivers absorbed nutrients to the liver

Does the liver produce bile?

yes

👩🏽⚕️ REPRODUCTIVE

What hormone is dominant in the luteal phase?

Progesterone

What cells are dark-staining in corpus luteum?

Granulosa lutein cells

Is the ganglion cell layer part of the neural retina?

Yes

🧴 SKIN

Which layer of skin contains keratohyalin granules?

Stratum granulosum

Which layer is thickest in thick skin?

Stratum corneum

What type of receptor is a Pacinian corpuscle?

Deep pressure receptor

🧠 ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM statements

The enteric nervous system is also known as the "gut brain."

The myenteric (Auerbach's) plexus controls gastrointestinal motility.

The submucosal (Meissner's) plexus regulates secretion and blood flow.

🧪 SALIVARY GLANDS statements

The parotid gland produces purely serous secretions.

The submandibular gland produces the majority of saliva.

Saliva contains IgA and lysozyme, contributing to nonspecific immunity.

Sympathetic stimulation results in the production of a smaller volume of saliva.

Myoepithelial cells surround acini and assist in secretion.

🧬 PANCREAS statements

Alpha cells of the pancreatic islets secrete glucagon.

Beta cells of the pancreatic islets secrete insulin.

Glucagon increases blood glucose levels.

Insulin decreases blood glucose levels.

The islets of Langerhans function as the endocrine portion of the pancreas.

The exocrine pancreas produces digestive enzymes.

🧠 LIVER statements

The hepatic portal circulation delivers nutrient-rich blood from the digestive tract to the liver.

The liver produces bile, which aids in fat digestion.

🌬️ RESPIRATORY statements

The trachea is lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.

Goblet cells in the respiratory tract secrete mucus.

Type II pneumocytes produce surfactant.

Surfactant reduces surface tension in the alveoli.

Alveoli are lined by simple squamous epithelium for efficient gas exchange.

Bronchi contain cartilage, while bronchioles do not.

🫀 BLOOD VESSELS statements

The tunica media is the thickest layer in arteries.

The tunica adventitia is the thickest layer in veins.

Endothelium lines all blood vessels and is composed of simple squamous epithelium.

The tunica media regulates vessel diameter through smooth muscle contraction.

🧪 ENDOCRINE statements

Thyroid follicles store thyroid hormone in the form of colloid.

Follicular cells produce T3 and T4.

Parafollicular (C) cells secrete calcitonin.

Calcitonin lowers blood calcium levels.

The anterior pituitary produces GH, PRL, ACTH, TSH, FSH, and LH.

The posterior pituitary releases ADH and oxytocin

🔥 ADRENAL GLAND statements

The zona glomerulosa secretes aldosterone.

The zona fasciculata secretes cortisol.

The zona reticularis secretes androgens.

The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.

👁️ SPECIAL SENSES statements

Rods are responsible for low-light and black-and-white vision.

Cones are responsible for color vision and are concentrated in the fovea.

The pigmented layer of the retina is closest to the choroid.

The ganglion cell layer is part of the neural retina.

🧴 SKIN statements

The stratum granulosum contains keratohyalin granules.

The stratum corneum is the thickest layer in thick skin.

Meissner's corpuscles detect light touch.

Pacinian corpuscles detect deep pressure and vibration.

🫀 CARDIO / BLOOD VESSELS statements

→ Purkinje fibers are located in the subendocardium and function as conducting cells.

→ The myocardium is the thickest layer of the heart.

→ The epicardium is the visceral layer of the pericardium.

→ Elastic lamina are present in arteries but not veins.

→ Veins contain valves to prevent backflow of blood.

→ Arterioles contain 1-3 layers of smooth muscle.

Where are Purkinje fibers located?

Subendocardium

What is the thickest layer of the heart?

Myocardium

Which layer is the visceral layer of the pericardium?

Epicardium

Which vessels contain elastic lamina?

Arteries

Which vessels contain valves?

Veins

How many smooth muscle layers are in arterioles?

1-3 layers

🧠 LYMPHATIC SYSTEM statements

→ The cortex of a lymph node contains B lymphocytes.

→ The paracortex of a lymph node contains T lymphocytes.

→ The medullary cords contain lymphocytes and plasma cells.

→ The medullary sinuses contain macrophages and reticular

cells.

→ The red pulp of the spleen contains red blood cells.

→ The white pulp of the spleen contains white blood cells.

→ PALS is located in the white pulp of the spleen.

→ The thymus is a primary lymphatic organ.

→ Hassall's corpuscles are characteristic structures of the thymus.

What cells are found in the cortex of a lymph node?

B lymphocytes

What cells are found in the paracortex of a lymph node?

T lymphocytes

What is found in the medullary cords?

Lymphocytes and plasma cells

What is found in the medullary sinuses?

Macrophages and reticular cells

What does red pulp contain?

RBCs

What does white pulp contain?

WBCs

Where is PALS located?

White pulp of spleen

What type of organ is the thymus?

Primary lymphatic organ

What structure is unique to the thymus?

Hassall's corpuscles

🧠 KIDNEY statements

→ The renal corpuscle consists of the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule.

→ The proximal convoluted tubule appears "dirty" due to microvilli.

→ The distal convoluted tubule appears clearer due to lack of microvilli.

→ The thin loop of Henle is lined with simple squamous epithelium.

→ The collecting duct is lined with simple cuboidal cells.

What makes up the renal corpuscle?

Glomerulus and Bowman's capsule

Which tubule appears "dirty" histologically?

Proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)

Which tubule appears clearer histologically?

Distal convoluted tubule (DCT)

What epithelium lines the thin loop of Henle?

Simple squamous epithelium.

What type of cells line the collecting duct?

Simple cuboidal

🌬️ RESPIRATORY statements

→ The conducting zone includes bronchi and bronchioles.

→ The respiratory zone includes respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli.

→ Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli.

What structures are part of the conducting zone?

Bronchi and bronchioles

What structures are part of the respiratory zone?

respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveoli, alveolar sacs

Where does gas exchange occur?

Alveoli

🍽️ DIGESTIVE statements

→ Parietal cells secrete hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor.

→ Chief cells secrete pepsinogen and gastric lipase.

→ Brunner's glands are located in the submucosa of the duodenum.

→ Paneth cells secrete lysozyme.

🍽️ DIGESTIVE

What do parietal cells secrete?

HCl and intrinsic factor

What do chief cells secrete?

Pepsinogen and gastric lipase

Where are Brunner's glands found?

Duodenum (submucosa)

What do Paneth cells secrete?

Lysozyme, phospholipase, and defensins,

which resist bacterial invasion of the mucosa.

👁️ EYE statements

→ The choroid is part of the vascular layer and nourishes the eye.

→ The sclera is part of the fibrous layer of the eye.

→ The optic nerve is formed by axons of ganglion cells.

What is the function of the choroid?

Nourishes the eye

Which layer is the sclera part of?

Fibrous layer

What forms the optic nerve?

Axons of ganglion cells

👂 EAR statements

→ The organ of Corti is responsible for hearing.

→ Hair cells detect sound vibrations.

→ The cochlear duct contains endolymph.

What structure is responsible for hearing?

Organ of Corti

What do hair cells do?

Detect sound

What fluid is in the cochlear duct?

Endolymph

🧠 LYMPH / IMMUNE

Paracortex = T cells

Cortex = B cells

Medulla = plasma cells

👂 EAR / EYE

Auditory tube = middle ear

External auditory meatus = ceruminous + sebaceous glands

Eye:

Iris = controls light

Lens = changes shape

🫁 NEPHRON

Renal pelvis = NOT part of nephron

Renal corpuscle = glomerulus + Bowman's capsule

🫁 RESPIRATORY

Gas exchange = alveoli

Conducting vs respiratory portions

Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium = trachea

🩸 VESSELS

Internal elastic lamina = artery identifier

Artery = thick wall, small lumen

Vein = thin wall, large lumen

Arteriole = 1-3 smooth muscle layers

Capillary = ONLY endothelium

Which layer contains smooth muscle in blood vessels?

Tunica media

What is the function of the tunica media?

Vasoconstriction and vasodilation

Which vessel has the thickest tunica media?

Artery

Which vessel has the thickest tunica adventitia?

Vein

Which vessel has a thick wall and small lumen?

Artery

Which vessel has a thin wall and large lumen?

Vein

What structure identifies arteries histologically?

Internal elastic lamina

How many smooth muscle layers are in arterioles?

1-3 layers