Histology & Tissue Processing MCQs with Answers
1. Which branch of anatomy studies tissues at the microscopic level?
A) Gross Anatomy
B) Histology
C) Neuroanatomy
D) Embryology
2. The study of the nervous system's structure is called:
A) Histology
B) Embryology
C) Neuroanatomy
D) Cytology
3. Which approach to gross anatomy studies the body region by region?
A) Systemic approach
B) Regional approach
C) Microscopic approach
D) Functional approach
4. Histology deals with:
A) The study of bones
B) The study of body tissue structures and their arrangement into organs
C) The study of organ systems only
D) The study of fossils
5. What are the two main interacting components of tissues?
A) Cells and cytoplasm
B) Cells and extracellular matrix
C) Collagen and elastin
D) Water and proteins
6. Which type of protein fiber is most abundant in the ECM?
A) Reticular
B) Elastic
C) Collagen
D) Keratin
7. The ECM supports cells and helps in:
A) Only nutrient transport
B) Transporting nutrients, removing wastes, and carrying secretions
C) Only providing structural support
D) Only immune defense
8. The ECM ground substance contains:
A) Water, proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans
B) DNA and RNA
C) Calcium salts and phosphates
D) Hemoglobin and enzymes
9. Which of the following produces ECM locally?
A) Blood plasma
B) Cells
C) Hormones
D) Proteins from diet
10. Which tissue feature depends heavily on the use of microscopes?
A) Size
B) Color
C) Histology
D) Bone density
11. The most common histological method for studying tissues involves:
A) Making 3D tissue models
B) Preparing thin tissue sections for light microscopy
C) Viewing tissues directly without processing
D) Boiling tissues in water
12. Why are thin tissue sections used in light microscopy?
A) To prevent contamination
B) To allow light to pass through
C) To make tissues heavier
D) To improve protein synthesis
13. The process of treating tissue with fixatives is called:
A) Embedding
B) Fixation
C) Dehydration
D) Clearing
14. Formalin is commonly used for:
A) Electron microscopy only
B) Light microscopy fixation
C) Tissue dehydration
D) Staining
15. Glutaraldehyde is mainly used for:
A) Electron microscopy fixation
B) Clearing
C) Embedding
D) Staining nuclei
16. Which is NOT a purpose of fixation?
A) Prevent autolysis
B) Make tissue firm
C) Increase bacterial growth
D) Preserve tissue structure
17. The dehydration step removes:
A) Fats
B) Water
C) Proteins
D) Enzymes
18. The correct dehydration alcohol sequence is:
A) 70%, 50%, 80%, 90%, 100%
B) 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%
C) 100%, 80%, 70%, 50%, 90%
D) 90%, 100%, 70%, 80%, 50%
19. The process after dehydration where tissue becomes translucent is called:
A) Fixation
B) Clearing
C) Embedding
D) Sectioning
20. Which is a common clearing agent?
A) Xylene
B) Alcohol
C) Formalin
D) Water
21. Which embedding material is most commonly used for light microscopy?
A) Plastic resins
B) Paraffin
C) Epoxy resin
D) Wax paper
22. Epoxy resins are preferred for:
A) TEM
B) SEM
C) Light microscopy
D) Confocal microscopy
23. The tool used for sectioning tissues is called:
A) Microscope
B) Microtome
C) Centrifuge
D) Autoclave
24. For light microscopy, sections are typically cut to:
A) 0.5–1 μm
B) 5–7 μm
C) 50 μm
D) 0.1 μm
25. Which step follows embedding?
A) Sectioning
B) Dehydration
C) Fixation
D) Clearing
26. Staining is necessary because:
A) Tissues are naturally colorful
B) Most tissues are colorless and need contrast
C) It preserves tissues
D) It replaces embedding
27. Basophilic structures stain with:
A) Acidic dyes
B) Basic dyes
C) Neutral dyes
D) Oil-based dyes
28. Acidophilic structures stain with:
A) Acidic dyes
B) Basic dyes
C) Both
D) Neutral dyes
29. Hematoxylin stains:
A) Proteins pink
B) DNA and RNA purple/blue
C) Collagen green
D) Mitochondria red
30. Eosin stains:
A) DNA blue
B) Collagen pink
C) RNA purple
D) Lipids yellow
31. Which microscope uses light for illumination?
A) Light microscope
B) Electron microscope
C) Confocal laser scanner
D) Atomic force microscope
32. Which microscope uses electron beams for imaging?
A) Light microscope
B) Electron microscope
C) Phase-contrast microscope
D) Fluorescence microscope
33. SEM is used for:
A) Viewing internal cell structures
B) Viewing 3D surfaces
C) Detecting DNA
D) Staining nuclei
34. TEM is used for:
A) Surface imaging
B) Ultrastructure imaging
C) Protein staining
D) Cytoplasmic staining
35. The main advantage of electron microscopes over light microscopes is:
A) Color imaging
B) Higher resolution
C) Portability
D) Cost
36. Magnification refers to:
A) Clarity of the image
B) Ratio between image size and actual size
C) Color depth
D) Illumination type
37. Resolution refers to:
A) Image enlargement
B) Measure of image clarity
C) Staining quality
D) Lens size
38. Contrast refers to:
A) Ability to differentiate structures
B) Type of stain used
C) Size of object
D) Magnification
39. Phase-contrast microscopy is useful for:
A) Stained tissues
B) Unstained living cells
C) Electron-dense tissues
D) Hard tissues only
40. Fluorescence microscopy uses:
A) Visible light only
B) UV light and fluorescent dyes
C) Heat
D) Magnetic fields
41. Histochemistry detects:
A) DNA sequence
B) Localization of macromolecules
C) Ultrastructural defects
D) Enzyme activity only
42. Immunocytochemistry uses:
A) Basic dyes
B) Fluorescent antibodies
C) Radioactive isotopes
D) Oil stains
43. Autoradiography involves:
A) Fluorescent tagging
B) Radioisotope incorporation
C) Basic dye staining
D) Phase-contrast microscopy
44. Tritium (³H) is used in:
A) Immunocytochemistry
B) Autoradiography
C) Histochemistry
D) Eosin staining
45. PAP smear is an example of:
A) Cytology
B) Histochemistry
C) SEM
D) Autoradiography
46. Fine-needle aspiration is used for:
A) Removing tumors
B) Obtaining cytology samples
C) Staining
D) Clearing tissues
47. Which application identifies cancer markers?
A) H&E staining
B) Immunohistochemistry
C) Clearing
D) Dehydration
48. Molecular diagnostics in histology are used for:
A) Identifying mutations and infectious agents
B) Improving contrast in microscopy
C) Sectioning
D) Clearing
49. Tissue preparation in pharmacology research helps to:
A) Develop surgical tools
B) Test drug effects
C) Manufacture vaccines only
D) Measure lens resolution
50. Forensic histology is useful for:
A) Detecting bacterial contamination
B) Determining cause of death
C) Making artificial tissues
D) Growing organ cultures
