BMS111 Lab 9 Histology – Epithelium, Glands & Connective Tissue

Q&A flashcards covering key histological features of epithelia, glands, and connective tissue presented in BMS111 Lab 9.

What is the specific name for simple squamous epithelium lining blood vessels?

Endothelium

Where can mesothelium (simple squamous epithelium) be found?

Serous membranes of pleura, pericardium and peritoneum

Which type of epithelium lines thyroid follicles and kidney tubules?

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Name two sites where simple columnar epithelium is found.

Stomach and intestine

Which cell specializations are typical of intestinal simple columnar epithelium?

Microvilli and interspersed goblet cells for absorption

What type of epithelium lines the trachea and bronchus?

Pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium

List two visible characters of pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium.

Cilia and goblet cells (with tall columnar and short basal cells)

Which epithelium protects the oesophagus?

Stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium

What epithelium forms the epidermis of skin?

Stratified squamous keratinized epithelium

Give one distinguishing feature of transitional epithelium.

Superficial dome-shaped cells that change shape/number when stretched

Where is transitional epithelium located?

Urinary bladder and ureter

What type of secretory unit is characteristic of the parotid gland?

Serous acinus

Which major salivary gland contains predominantly mucous acini?

Sublingual gland

Identify the sensory structure present in lingual epithelium that contains receptor, supporting and stem cells.

Taste bud

What modification of the basal plasma membrane is typical of ion-transporting epithelial cells (e.g., renal tubule)?

Basal membrane infoldings

Which cytoskeletal element forms the core of microvilli?

Actin microfilaments

State the main function of microvilli.

Increase absorptive surface area

What is the junctional complex that forms the most apical cell-to-cell seal in epithelial cells?

Zonula occludens (tight junction)

Name the intermediate (belt) junction located just basal to the tight junction.

Zonula adherens

Which spot-like junction anchors intermediate filaments at sites of strong adhesion?

Macula adherens (desmosome)

Which connective tissue fibre is acidophilic, forms bundles and is non-stretchable?

Collagen fibre

Which stain specifically colors elastic fibres brown?

Orcein

Give one site rich in elastic connective tissue.

Aorta (elastic artery)

Which connective tissue fibres form branching networks and are demonstrable with silver stain?

Reticular fibres

Which fixed connective tissue cell synthesises extracellular matrix and is essential for wound healing?

Fibroblast

Name the large phagocytic connective tissue cell rich in lysosomes and pseudopodia.

Macrophage

Which connective tissue cell contains cytoplasmic granules with histamine and has surface IgE receptors?

Mast cell

Which immune cell shows a negative Golgi image and a clock-face nucleus and secretes antibodies?

Plasma cell

Into which three broad categories is connective tissue classified?

Embryonic CT, Connective Tissue Proper, Specialized CT

Which embryonic connective tissue forms Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord?

Mucoid (mucous) connective tissue

State two key features of loose (areolar) connective tissue.

Highly cellular and vascular with few loosely arranged fibres

Give one common location for loose areolar connective tissue.

Immediately beneath epithelium (lamina propria)

Which dense connective tissue type shows parallel collagen bundles and is found in tendons?

Dense regular connective tissue

Where is dense irregular connective tissue typically located?

Dermis of the skin

Which connective tissue type contains abundant elastic fibres and elastic lamellae and occurs in the bronchial tree?

Elastic connective tissue

Reticular connective tissue forms the supportive stroma in which lymphoid organ?

Lymph node (also spleen, bone marrow, liver)

Describe the nucleus position and cytoplasmic appearance of a unilocular adipocyte.

Flattened, peripheral nucleus with a single large lipid droplet giving a signet-ring appearance

Where is brown (multilocular) adipose tissue abundant in newborns?

Axilla, interscapular region, around kidneys

List two general differences between cartilage matrix and bone matrix.

Cartilage is basophilic, avascular, rich in type II collagen & 75 % water; bone is acidophilic, vascular, type I collagen with calcium deposition

Which bone type contains Haversian systems and is found in the shaft of long bones?

Compact (lamellar) bone

Identify the resident cell of bone housed in lacunae and one of its sites in spongy bone.

Osteocyte; found in flat or short bones such as ribs and skull

What cytoplasmic basophilic structures in neuron perikaryon correspond to rough ER and ribosomes?

Nissl bodies (Nissl granules)

Which blood vessel type has a larger lumen with thinner wall: medium-sized vein or medium-sized artery?

Medium-sized vein

What surface specialisation is formed by glycoprotein layer external to the plasma membrane and is indicated by the term 'cell coat'?

Glycocalyx

Which cell type contains numerous phagocytic vacuoles and heterogeneous lysosomes and is therefore correct if asked, 'Which cell has numerous lysosomes and phagocytic vacuoles?'

Macrophage

Which connective tissue cell shows the most activity during surgical wound healing?

Fibroblast

Which cell possesses an IgE receptor on its surface, important in hypersensitivity reactions?

Mast cell