HISTOLOGY LAB EXERCISE NAME________________________
Epithelial Tissue
Epithelium covers all organs of the body and lines all cavities and openings of the body. It is a primary
component of all glands. When looking for epithelial tissue, observe the edge or border of a slide specimen.
Slides to use are glands, organs of the digestive tract, and respiratory tract.
Draw a representative are of each of the following under high magnification.
Squamous Epithelium Magnification__________________ Site of tissue__________________
Cuboidal Epithelium Magnification__________________ Site of tissue___________________
Columnar Epithelium Magnification__________________ Site of tissue__________________
Individual Squamous Epithelial Cells Magnification_______________ Site________________
Gently scrape the inside of your mouth with a clean toothpick. Smear the material on the toothpick on a clean
slide and stain with methylene blue. Let the stain set for 1 minute and wash slide with clear water. Observe and
label cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and nucleolus.
HISTOLOGY LAB NAME___________________________
Muscle Tissue
Since most cellular detail of muscle tissue is beyond the resolving capabilities of our microscopes, I would like
you to look at slides of each type and try to distinguish the difference between each one.
Skeletal (Striated) Muscle Magnification_________________ Site of Tissue_________________
Visceral (Smooth) Muscle Magnification_________________ Site of Tissue_________________
Cardiac Muscle Magnification_________________ Site of Tissue_________________
Nervous Tissue
Select a slide, Giant Multipolar Neurons, and observe it under medium magnification. Label the dendrites, cell
body, and axon.
Neuron Magnification_________________ Site of
Tissue_________________
HISTOLOGY LAB NAME________________________
Connective Tissue
Connective tissues bind structures together, provide support and protection, serve as a framework, fill spaces,
store fat, and form blood cells. As a rule connective tissue cells have an abundance of intercellular material
between them (matrix). Generally, these tissues are found just under epithelial tissue.
Loose Connective Tissue Adipose Fat Magnification__________________
Site of tissue___________________
Fibrous Connective Tissue Tendon Ligaments Magnification__________________
Site of tissue___________________
Cartilage Magnification__________________ Site of tissue__________________
Bone Magnification__________________ Site of tissue__________________
HISTOLOGY LAB NAME________________________
Connective Tissues
1. Loose Connective: Choose a slide of human adipose tissue. Examine the tissue under medium and
high magnifications. What cells primarily comprise this tissue? (pg44)
Can you locate the cell’s nucleus?
Draw and label a small tissue section as it appears under high magnification.
2. Dense Connective: A. Choose a slide labeled white fibrous tissue, human tendon. This is an example
of a very dense connective tissue. Examine under medium and high magnifications. The bulk of the
tissues are acellular fibers known as what?
These fibers are produced by purple-stained cells known as what?
Draw and label a representative area under high magnification.
B. Choose the slide labeled pseudo stratified ciliated columnar epithelium and center the purple
stained region under medium magnification. This region is composed of cartilage, a dense
connective tissue. How is it different form the white fibrous tissue?
The cells of cartilage tissue are termed chondrocytes. Can you locate these?
How many cells are grouped together?
Does this number vary?
The cells are contained in islands known as lacunae. Are they evident?
Now increase to high magnification and examine the chondrocytes inside of the lacunae. What is the
general term for the extra-cellular material of connective tissue?
Draw and label what you observe.
C. Next select a slide labeled human ground bone. Examine the overall aspect under low
magnification. Notice the concentric rings surrounding the canals. These canals are Haversian canals
which contain blood vessels and nerves in living tissue. The canal and its surrounding material is
called a Haversian system. Center one Haversian system and increase to high magnification. This
tissue also contains lacunae, but they are arranged in concentric rings. Do you see them?
Inside these lacunae a singe bone cell (Osteocyte) is located. Do you see the osteocyte?
Also notice the fibrous canal network connecting the lacunae. The canals are known as canaliculi.
Draw and label a Haversian system as you see it under high magnification.
