This collection was originally compiled by Kent Christensen, Ph.D., J. Matthew Velkey, Ph.D., Lloyd M. Stoolman, M.D., Laura Hessler, and Diedra Mosley-Brower. Currently, it is curated by Michael Hortsch, Ph.D. If you have questions or comments regarding the University of Michigan virtual slide collection, please contact Dr. Hortsch at hortsch at umich.edu.
Virtual Slide List
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Resources
Access to the supplemental resources for this session is password-protected and restricted to University of Michigan students. If you are a University of Michigan student enrolled in a histology course at the University of Michigan, please click on the following link and use your Kerberos-password for access to download lecture handouts and the other resources.
Virtual Slide List for Histology Course
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195M
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Liver and gall bladder, Masson stain, 40X | |
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198
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Liver, 40X, stained with silver to show the collagen III reticular fibers in the space of Disse CURRENTLY NOT AVAILBLE | |
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198-1
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Liver, stained with silver to show bile canaliculi, 20X (try to see the three-dimensional path of bile canaliculi between hepatocytes). | |
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219
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Central Vein Region: Note that the sinusoids drain into the central vein. Squamous endothelial cells lining the vessel are clearly seen. | |
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220
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Liver Parenchyma: In the Kupffer cell note occasional lysosomes, which are involved in the phagocytic activities of this cell type. The endothelial lining of the sinusoid is discontinuous, allowing free passage of materials into the space of Disse (note the numerous short microvilli extending from the surface of hepatocytes into this space). There is no organized basal lamina along the endothelial cells or hepatocytes. | |
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223
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Portal Triad: Differentiate between the portal vein, hepatic artery and bile duct that make up the portal “triad” and note the connective tissue that surrounds them. In the liver tissue around the portal area you will see plates of hepatocytes, with sinusoids between them. Bile canaliculi can be seen as small white spots between hepatocytes. The sinusoids are lined by endothelial cells and contain occasional Kupffer cells. | |
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224
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Gall Bladder Epithelium (Simple Columnar Epithelium): Review the role of the gall bladder epithelium in absorption and concentration of bile. | |
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226
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Exocrine Pancreas: In this low power electron micrograph, observe the organization of the acini, composed of acinar cells. Within the acinar cells you will see the basal rough endoplasmic reticulum and the numerous secretory granules in the apical region of the cells, facing the small lumen of the acinus. Note the centroacinar cell in upper right acinus. | |
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227
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Organelles of the Secretory Pathway: Pancreatic acinar cells as depicted in this electron micrograph are cells that are highly specialized for protein secretion. Therefore, all the organelles of the secretory pathway are well represented and clearly visible in this image. | |
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230
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Endocrine Pancreas: You will not be ask to identify different types of endocrine cells in the islet of Langerhans. However, compare the appearance of an endocrine cell containing small granules to that of a portion of exocrine cell shown on the right. |
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80a
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Cochlea, guinea pig, H&E, 40X (cochlea [scala vestibuli, vestibular membrane = Reissner's membrane, cochlear duct, stria vascularis [14168 x 3740], basilar membrane, scala tympani, modiolus, helicotrema], organ of Corti [outer hair cells, phalangeal cells, reticular lamina, outer and inner tunnels and pillar cells, inner hair cells, tectorial membrane], nerves [spiral ganglion, auditory branch of 8th nerve], vestibule [bony labyrinth], utricle). Note that the basilar membrane is longer near the apex of the cochlear spiral (lower tones) than at the base (higher tones). | |
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EAR-1
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Inner ear, H&E, 40X (cochlea [scala vestibuli, vestibular membrane=Reissner's membrane, cochlear duct, stria vascularis, basilar membrane, scala tympani, modiolus, helicotrema], organ of Corti [outer hair cells, phalangeal cells, reticular lamina, outer and inner tunnels and pillar cells, inner hair cells, tectorial membrane], nerves [spiral ganglion, auditory branch of 8th nerve], vestibule [bony labyrinth], utricle and saccule [membranous labyrinth], WebScopeula [hair cells, supporting cells, otolithic membrane, otoliths=otoconia]. Not shown here are semicircular canals, ampullae, cristae [hair cells, supporting cells, cupula]). | |
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EAR-2
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Inner ear, guinea pig, H&E, 40X (cochlea [scala vestibuli, vestibular membrane = Reissner's membrane, cochlear duct, stria vascularis, basilar membrane, scala tympani, modiolus, helicotrema], organ of Corti [outer hair cells, phalangeal cells, reticular lamina, outer and inner tunnels and pillar cells, inner hair cells, tectorial membrane], nerves [spiral ganglion, auditory branch of 8th nerve], vestibule [bony labyrinth], utricle and saccule [membranous labyrinth], macula, hair cells, supporting cells, otolithic membrane, otoliths = otoconia], crista [the cupula is damaged] in ampulla of a semicircular canal [the canals are not shown here]). | |
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EAR-3
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Inner ear, guinea pig, H&E, 40X | |
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EAR-4
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Ear petrous temporal bone, guinea pig, unknown stain, possibly Osmium Tetroxide staining or PTAH (Phosphotungstic Acid – Hematoxylin), 40X (Inner ear, spiral or cochlear ganglion, cochlear nerve). | |
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337
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Organ of Corti: Note the position of inner and outer hair cells in the Organ of Corti. Also know, which spaces are filled with perilymph and with endolymph, respectively. |
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217
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Thyroid gland and parathyroid, H&E, 40X (thyroid, follicles, follicular epithelial cells, colloid, parathyroid [at lower right], chief cells, oxyphil cells). | |
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218-norm
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Thyroid gland, rat, normal activity, Masson stain, 40X | |
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218-hyper
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Thyroid gland, rat, hyperactive, Masson stain, 20X | |
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218-hypo
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Thyroid gland, rat, hypoactive, Masson trichrome, 40X (thyroid, follicles, flat follicular epithelial cells, abundant colloid, parafollicular cells or C cells). | |
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220
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Parathyroid, H&E, 40X (parathyroid [dense oval in lower part of field], chief cells, oxyphil cells. | |
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226
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Pituitary gland, human, H&E, 20X (pars distalis [at right], acidophils, basophils, pars nervosa [light area at left]). | |
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226
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Pituitary gland, human, H&E, 40X (pars distalis [at right], acidophils, basophils, pars nervosa [light area at left], pars intermedia). | |
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226b
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Pituitary gland, human, Masson trichrome, 40X, right side of section is in better focus (pars distalis, acidophils, basophils). | |
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227
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Pituitary gland, monkey, Masson trichrome, 40X (pars distalis [at right], acidophils, basophils, pars nervosa [light area at left], pars intermedia). | |
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227XC-HE
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Pituitary gland, monkey, cross section, H&E, 40X | |
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227XC-TriC
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Pituitary gland, monkey, cross section, Masson stain, 40X | |
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229
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Infundibular stalk and hypophyseal portal vessels, H&E, 40X (pars distalis [at left], acidophils, basophils, infundibular stalk [light structure at right], hypophyseal portal vessels). | |
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229B
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Infundibular stalk and hypophyseal portal vessels, H&E, 20X (pars distalis [at left], acidophils, basophils, infundibular stalk [light structure at right], hypophyseal portal vessels). | |
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230
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Adrenal gland, human, H&E, 40X (capsule, cortex, zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis, medulla [note that medulla not present in extension at left], branches of central vein). | |
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231
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Adrenal gland, monkey, H&E, 40X (capsule, cortex, zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis, medulla, central vein). | |
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232
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Adenohypophysis – Anterior Pituitary: Here you see pituitary cells of various size clustered between capillaries. The main cell types are somatotropes (GH), mammotropes (prolactin), gonadotropes (FSH and LH), thyrotropes (TSH) and corticotropes (ACTH). You will not be required to identify these cell types in electron micrographs, but should note that the cells differ in size, shape and in the number, size and distribution of their secretory granules (small black structures in the cytoplasm). When the content of a secretory granule is released from the cells, the hormones diffuse to nearby capillaries. The endothelium of these capillaries is very thin and, as with most endocrine organs, contains fenestrations (not seen clearly in this micrograph). | |
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233
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Adenohypophysis – Anterior Pituitary: This electron micrograph shows two of the pituitary cell types in more detail. Two gonadotropes occupy most of the lower half of the figure. Two somatotropes take most of the middle and upper portion of the image. Hormones are synthesized on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) of the two cell types. The hormone subsequently passes through the Golgi complex and is then directed and collected into secretory granules. Since FSH and LH are glycoproteins, terminal sugars are added to the oligosaccharide chains as the hormone passes through the Golgi stack. When a cell is stimulated by appropriate releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, the content of the granules is released from the cell by exocytosis. | |
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234
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Adenohypophysis – Anterior Pituitary: Note the fenestrated capillaries and that the secretory granule content is discharged by exocytosis (through the fusion of the secretory granule membrane with the cell membrane). | |
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235
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Neurohypophysis – Posterior Pituitary: The nerve fibers (axons) that comprise the posterior lobe carry small secretory granules containing oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone (ADH, vasopressin), as well as their carrier proteins (neurophysins). The granules accumulate in nerve endings that can be seen in this figure (for example in the area near the capillary in the lower center of the image). When appropriate neural stimulation arrives from the hypothalamus, the content of granules in the endings is released and the hormones pass to nearby capillaries and then out to the body. Large accumulations of the granules, probably no longer functional, are called “Hering bodies”. Most of the large nuclei seen here belong to pituicytes, a type of glial cell in this portion of the brain. Other nuclei in the neurohypophysis belong to capillary endothelial cells. | |
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241
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Thyroid Gland: The gland is made up of follicles, with epithelial cells forming their walls and containing a lumen full of colloid. The follicles vary in size. Parafollicular cells, which secrete calcitonin, are present in between follicles and can be distinguished at the EM level. However, it is difficult to recognize them at the LM level. Also note the numerous capillaries closely apposed to the follicles, which is a characteristic of endocrine tissues. | |
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242
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Thyroid Follicular Cell: Remember that the follicular cells secrete thyroglobulin into the colloid and subsequently resorb it and break it down to produce thyroid hormones. In this electron micrograph, try to identify the various organelles and cellular structures involved in these functions. | |
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243
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Parafollicular Cell (Thyroid Gland): Note that the cell is surrounded by follicular cells and contains numerous small and electron-dense secretory granules. | |
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246
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Parathyroid Gland: The gland consists of cords of chief cells with occasional islets of oxyphil cells, which are filled by abundant mitochondria. | |
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250
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Adrenal Cortex: Note the connective tissue capsule and the zona glomerulosa beneath the capsule. The boundary between the zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata is not distinct even at the EM level. Notice the numerous large capillaries. Clear circles in the cytoplasm are extracted lipid droplets. | |
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254
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Details of a Zona Reticularis Cell (Adrenal Cortex): Note the ultrastructure of these steroid-hormone secreting cells. These cells contain numerous lipid droplets. Notice also that the cells have numerous mitochondria with tubular cristae. Mitochondria with this structure are often found in steroid synthesizing cells. Cells in the adrenal cortex are associated with capillaries, which have the fenestrated endothelium that is characteristic of capillaries in endocrine tissues. | |
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255
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Adrenal Medulla: Notice that the cells of the adrenal medulla have smaller mitochondria and also contain numerous distinct secretory granules. Two types of cells are found, one secreting epinephrine (adrenalin), the other secreting norepinephrine (noradrenalin), which you will not be asked to discriminate. Locate nerve endings in contact with the medullary cells. |
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009-N1
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Kidney, H&E, 40X (simple cuboidal epithelium). | |
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019-1
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Ureter, over distended, H&E, 20X (transitional epithelium). | |
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019-2
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Ureter, undistended, H&E, 40X (transitional epithelium). | |
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020
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Trachea, H&E, 20X and 40X (pseudostratified columnar epithelium). | |
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029-1
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Small intestine, H&E, 40X (simple columnar epithelium, simple squamous epithelium). | |
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030
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Mesentery, H&E, 40X (simple squamous epithelium in blood vessels and at surface). | |
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040
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Trachea H&E, 40X (pseudostratified columnar epithelium). | |
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106
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Thick skin, sole of foot, H&E, 40X (stratified squamous epithelium, keratinized). |