HISTOLOGY

ORGANS- SUMMARY
ANNA QUAST
 General Stuff Histology
Esophago- Tunica Mucosa:
- Epithelium
Gastro- o Surface
Intestinal o Glandular
Tract - Lamina propria
o Loose CT
o Contains glands
- Muscularis mucosae
o Smooth muscle fibers
o Inner = circular
o Outer = longitudinal
Tunica Submucosa:
- Dense CT
- Contains vessels & Meissner’s plexus
- Esophageal & duodenal level with
glands
Tunica Muscularis Externa:
- Mixes digestive tract contents
- Smooth muscle fibers
o Inner = circular
o Outer = longitudinal
- Auerbach’s plexus
Tunica Externa:
- Adventitia
o Loose CT (esophagus & rectum)
- Serosa
o Rest of digestive tube


General Stuff Histology
Esophagus Mucosa:
- Epithelium
o Strat. Squam. Non-keratinized epi.
- Lamina Propria
o Loose CT
o Esophageal cardial glands
- Muscularis Mucosae
o Thick
o Smooth muscle fibers, longitudinal
Submucosa:
- CT rich in collagen fibers & elastic fibers
- Meissner’s plexus
- Tubulo-alveolar glands (esophageal glands)
o Secrete mucus
Muscularis Externa:
- Inner = circular
- Outer = longitudinal
- Upper third
o Striated muscle fibers
- Middle third
o Mixed, striated & smooth muscle
- Lower third
o Smooth muscle fibers
- Auerbach’s plexus
Adventitia:
- Loose CT
- Surrounds esophagus and extends to
mediastinum

 General Stuff Histology
Stomach Mucosa:
- Epithelium
o Surface
§ Simple columnar epi.
§ Mucus secreting (protective)
o Glandular
§ Chief cells (basophilic)
§ Parietal cells (acidophilic)
§ Enter-endocrine cells
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosae
Submucosa:
- Dense CT
- Contains
o Blood vessels
o Lymphatic vessels
o Nerves (inkl. Meissner’s)
Muscularis Externa:
- Smooth muscle
o Inner = oblique
o Middle = circular
o Outer = longitudinal
o Auerbach’s
Serosa:
- Covers stomach on outer surface
- Consists of
o Subserous CT
o Simple squam. Epi.

 General Stuff Histology
Small Tunica mucosa:
- Intestinal villi
Intestine o CT central axis with smooth muscle,
capillaries & lymphatics
o Surface epithelia
- 2/3 from wall depth, ½ villi
- Surface epithelia
o simple columnar
o covers intestinal villi
§ loose CT
§ duodenum = long & large
§ jejunum = long & thin
§ ileum = fewer & smaller
o different types of cells:
§ enterocytes (chief cells)
§ goblet cells
§ stem cells
§ ...
- Glandular epithelia
o Forms crypts of Lieberkühn
o Paneth’s cells
- Lamina propria
o Forms central axis of villi &
between glands
o Peyer’s patches (ileum!!!)
- Muscularis mucosae
o Smooth muscle
§ Inner = circular
§ Outer = longitudinal
 General Stuff Histology
Small Tunica submucosa:
- Dense irregular CT with vessels &
Intestine Lymphatics
- Meissner’s plesxus
- Lymphoid follicles
- Brünner glands (duodenum)
o Tubulo-acinar compound glands
o Mucous acini
o Long excretory duct – Crypts of
Lieberkühn
Tunica muscularis:
- Smooth muscle
o Inner = circular
o Outer = longitudinal
o Auerbach plexus
Serosa:
- Mesothelia (2. & 3. Part of duodenum has
Adventitia
- Subepithelial CT
 General Stuff Histology
Large Tunica mucosa:
- Surface epithelium
Intestine o Absent villi, microvilli present
o Numerous goblet cells
o Simple columnar
- Glandular epithelium
o Crypts of Lieberkühn (in lamina
propria)
o Simple, tubular glands, numerous,
long & rich in goblet cells
- Lamina propria
o Loose CT
o Lymphoid nodules
o Crypts of Lieberkühn
- Muscularis mucosae
o Inner = circular
o Outer = longitudinal
Tunica submucosa:
- Dense CT
o Vessels, Meissner plexus, adipose
cells, inflammatory cells
o No glands







 Tunica muscularis:
- Outer longitudinal layer is discontinous
(teniae coli) à haustrae
- Auerbach between both layers
Adventitia & Serosa:
- Serosa: ascending, descending, rectum
- Adventitia (loose CT): in posterior
ascending & descending

 Genersal Stuff Histology
Appendix Mucosa:
- surface epithelium
o simple columnar polymorphic
- glandular epithelium
o simple columnar polymorphic
o enteroendocrine cells
o glands: short & rare
- lamina propria
o rich in inflammatory infiltrate
- muscularis mucosae
o interrupted by large lymphatic
follicles
Submucosa:
- dense CT
o blood & lymphatic vessels
o nerves
o large lymphatic follicles !!!
Muscularis externa:
- continous & thin
o smooth muscle
§ inner = circular
§ outer = longitudinal
o outer layer is continous à no teniae
coli
Serosa:
- outer coat of appendix
- mesothelium (simple squamous epithelium)
o on thin CT
Pancreas - parenchymal organ
Capsule:
- thin
- fibrous CT
- septa (trabeculae) delimiting incomplete
lobules
o large lumen ducts, vessels & nerves
Stroma:
- reticulin fibers
o support for capillaries
- contains adipocytes
Parenchyma:
- exocrine
o compound, tubulo-acinar glands
o pancreatic acini
§ no myoepithelial cells !!!
§ zymogens acinar cells
o excretory ducts
§ centroacinar cells
• regenerating cells
§ intercalated ducts
• simple cuboidal epi.
§ intralobular ducts
• simple cylindrical epi.
§ interlobular ducts
• simple columnar epi.
§ main ducts
• simple columnar epi.
• May contain goblet
cells
 - endocrine
o cords of endocrine cells seperated
o islets of Langerhans
§ compact islets
• 90% well limited from
acini
• polygonal
• contain ß-cells
(centrally)
§ diffuse islets
• 10% not clearly limited
from acini
• cells are cubic or
cylindrical
• contain PP cells

 General Stuff Histology
Liver - parenchymal organ
Capsule:
- dense CT, covered my peritoneum
- loosely attachetd to surface of liver
o portion of hilum becomes thicker, forming
branched septa to support vessels & nerves
Stroma:
- perilobular stroma
o septa from capsule, subdividing parenchyma
into lobules
o if obvious = ill human, boundaries can only
be approximated (in animals obvious)
- reticular stroma
o reticular fibers
o within the lobules
o sustaining the cell
Parenchyma:
- hepatocytes arranged in radial cords
o separated by sinusoids
o anastomosed appearance
Classic lobule:
- endocrine function
- hexagonal (pyramidal in reality)
- perilobular stroma is limitation
- central vein is center
o cords of hepatocytes radiating off
§ separated by capillaries with
sinusoids
- between lobules = portal triad
Portal triad:
- CT
- Artery
o Terminal branch of hepatic artery
§ Small lumen, thick muscular wall
- Vein
o Terminal branch of portal vein
§ Large lumen, thin wall
§ Largest element in portal area
- Bile duct
o Collects bile
o Round lumen
o Simple cuboidal epithelium
- Lymphatic vessels
- Nerve fibers
- Portal triad: !!!!!
o Artery
o Vein
o Bile duct (very characteristic – pearl chain)
Hepatocytes:
- 80% of cells in liver
- cubic in shape
- spheric nucleus with nucleolus (some with 2 nuclei)
- sinusoidal domain:
o contact with sinusoids
o microvilli
o project into Disse space to increase &
fascilitate exchange of material
o endocrine secretion of liver

 - Sinusoids are lined by endothelial & Kupfer cells
- Central vein is in centre of lobule
o Collects blood from sinusoids
o Discontinous wall
o Drains into sublobular veins & then into
hepatic veins
- Biliar domain:
o Initial portion of intrahepatic bile duct
o Bile canaliculi lead bile through inside of
hepaocyte to classical lobules

 Gerneral Stuff Histology
Trachea Mucosa:
- Ciliated pseudostrat. Columnar epi.
- Ciliated columnar cells:
o Most numerous
o Numerous cilia that move mucous layer to
pharynx
o Underneath cilia is a dark line of aggregated
ciliary basal bodies
- Mucous cells:
o Similar to goblet cells
o Secrete mucous layer
o Mucigen droplets
- Basal cells:
o Rest on basal lamina
o Don’t reach luminal surface
- Brush cells
- Small granule cells
- Basement membrane:
o Thickest in body
o Tracheal epithelium
o Dense collagen fibers underneath basal
lamina
- Lamina propria:
o Loose CT, rich in elastic fibers
o Elastic fibers condense & form elastic
membrane (deep, limited by submucosa)
o Lymphocytes, mast cells, plasma cells &
lymphatic nodules may be present in lamina
propria & submucosa
Submucosa:
- Collagenous fibers
o Attach elastic membrane to perichondrium
surrounding cartilages
- Seromucous, tubulo-alveolar glands
o Ducts open in epithelial surface
o Posteriorly (very numerous) they extend
through tracheal muscle to adventitia
o Lymphocytes, mast cells, plasma cells &
lymphatic nodules may be present in lamina
propria & submucosa
Tracheal cartilage:
- Hyaline cartilage
- 15-20 C-shaped rings in submucosal CT
o opening posterior to esophagus
o bridged by smooth muscle fibers (trachealis
muscle) & CT
- longitudinal & elastic CT fibers link cartilage rings
- perichondrium is thickest externally of cartilages,
merges with adventitia
Adventitia:
- loose CT, containing fat
- vessels & nerves bind trachea to surrounding
structures

General Stuff Histology
Lungs - Capsule (pleura)
o formed by 2 sheets closing the pleural space
- Stroma
o CT accompanying the branching of lungs
- Parenchyma
Bronchial Tree
Conducting portion:
- extrapulmonary parts
o nasal cavities, nasal pharynx, larynx, trachea &
primary bronchi
- intrapulmonary parts
o rest of bronchi
o lobar & segmental, lobular & terminal
bronchioles
Respiratory portion:
- intrapulmonary parts
Cond. o respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar
sacs & alveoli
- plus vessels
Primary Bronchi:
- in CT septa of stroma
- tubular organ
- large, wavey lumen (infoldings of mucosa)
- Mucosa:
o Pseudostrat. Columnar ciiated epi.
o Lamina propria: loose CT, elastic fibers &
smooth muscle

 - Submucosa:
o CT with serous glands
- Hyaline cartilage:
o Irregular shape (small lates)
o Surrounded by perichondrium
- Adventitia:
o CT with vessels, nerves & ganglia
Intrapulmonary Bronchi:
Cond. - Height of epithelium decreses
o Pseudostrat. becomes cylindrcal epi. with
goblet cells
- Seromucous glands are absent in small bronchi &
bronchioles
- Hyaline cartilage decreses, absent in bronchioles
- Smooth muscle increses with decrease of cartilage
Bronchioles:
- In lobule, surrounded by alveoli
- Simple cylindrical ciliated epi. with goblet cells
o Goblet cells are disappearing at terminal bro.
- Typically, no longer have cartilage or glands
o Smooth muscle layer is thick
- Mucosa:
o Simple columna/cuboidal epi. with Clara cells
o Lamina propria: CT
- Smooth muscle:
o Well developed
- Adeventitia:
o Elastic fibers à no glands, no cartilage !!!


 Cond. Terminal Bronchiole: Bronchus:
- Final segment of conducting portion
- Ciliated cubic simple epi. with Clara cells
- Higher number of Clara cells = lower number of ciliatd
cells
- Smooth muscle layer best presented
- From fibroelastic CT that surrounds muscle fibers
o Radiating elastic fibers attached for support

Terminal Bronchiole:

Resp. Respiratory Bronchiole:
- Simple cuboidal epithelium
o First ciliated cells & Clara cells
o After branching numerous Clara cells but
nonciliated
- Wall interrupted by alveoli
- Under epithelium is fibroelastic CT & smooth muscle
fibers
Alveolar Ducts:
- Elongated airspaces that rise from respiratory
brochioles
- No walls à alveoli
- At opening of alveoli into alveolar ducts are smooth
muscle fibers rings, surroundedn by reticulin fibers
à thin sphincter regulating the opening diameter
- Ducts branch off 2-3 times ending in small spaces
(atrium)
o Alveolar sacs & alveoli diverge from it
o Alveolar sacs are spaces surrounded by alveoli
Alveoli:
- Gas exchange
- Seperated by intraalveolar septa
- Lined by alveolar epithelium
- Simples squam. epi.
o Type 1 pneumocytes – membraneous (gas
diffusion)
o Type 2 pneumocytes – granular (secretes
pulmonary surfactant
o Alveolar macrophages (remove dust cells –
inhaled particles)
Resp. Interalveolar Septum:
- Elastic fibers
- Reticular fibers
- Continous capillaries
- Cells:
o Firbroblasts
o Macrophages
o Lymphocytes
- Pores of Kohn
Blood-Air Barrier:
- Diffusion of gas between
alveolar space & blood
- Consists of:
o Surfactant
o Pneumocyte 1
o Fused basal lamina
o Endothelial cells



DIAGNOSIS: !!!!
- Sponge-like aspect of
parenchyma
- Artery-bronchus complex

 General Stuff Histology
Kidney - Capsule Cortex + Medulla:
o Outer layer = dense CT
§ Collagen fibers & fibroblasts
o Inner layer = mostly cellular
§ Myofibroblasts à control & adapt
- Stroma
o Loose CT in medulla
o Reticular fibers in cortex
- Parenchyma
o Tubular structure
§ Nephrons
§ Collecting ducts
à cortex (at periphery)
à medulla (in center)
o Cortex-medulla boundary no straight line
§ Cortex into medulla in renal columns
§ Medulla into cortex as medullary rays
Cortex:
- Subcapsular cortex (cortical arch)
o Cortex beneath capsule
o Overlies base of pyramids
- Cortical labyrinth
o Extension of cortex betweens medullary rays
- Renal columns of Bertin:
o Extension of cortex between renal pyramids
Medulla:
- Renal pyramids (Malpighi)
o 8-18 lobes
o base towards cortex
 o apex = renal papilla, towards hilum
- Medullary rays (Ferrin)
o Conical masses at pyramids base
o Extensions of medulla into cortex

- Lobe = renal pyramid + medullary rays
- Lobule = medullary rays + surrounding cortex
Parenchyma:
- Uriniferous tubule = nephron + collecting duct
- Nephron à secretory portion
o Renal corpuscle: !!!!!!!
§ Glomerulus
• Urinary pole (free space)
• Vascular pole
(juxtaglomerular apparatus=
distal tubule + macula densa +
2 arterioles))
à Bowman’s capsule (podocytes)
§ CT (Intraglomerular mesangial cells,
between capillaries)
o Renal tubule:
§ Proximal convoluted tubule (no
lumen)
§ „ straight „
§ Loop of Henle
§ Distal straight tubule
§ „ convoluted „ (with lumen)
- Collecting ducts à excretory portion
o Collecting tubules
o Collecting ducts
o Ducts of Bellini
 à Renal Tubule: d = distal tubule
- Proximal tubule p = proximal tubule
à convoluted
o In cortex
o Narrow/no lumen
o Simple columnar epithelium
o Centraly placed nucleus
o Eosinophilic cytoplasm
o Brush border – apical pole
à straight
o Smaller cells
o Not specialized on absorption
- Loop of Henle
o In medulla
o Devided into thick & thin parts
o Ascending & descending limb
o Thin = narrow lumen & simp. squam. epi.
o Ascend. thick = cuboidal cells
- Distal tubule
o Larger lumen
o Cuboidal epithelial cells
o Round nuclei
o Pale cytoplasm
§ No brush border, few microvilli
o Macula densa = part of tubule in contact
with afferent arteriole
§ Columnar cells with ovoid basophilic
nuclei without basal lamina
 Juxtaglomerular apparatus:
- Vascular pole of renal corpuscle
- Maintains blood-pressure & -volume
o Renin
- Juxtaglomerular cells
o In tunica media of afferent arteriole
o Smooth muscle cells
o Contain renin granules
- Macula densa
o Cluster of specialized cells
o Belongs to distal convoluted tubule
o Tall, narrow, pale cytoplasm, big & dark
nuclei
o Sensor for sodium chloride in distal tubule
lumen
- Extraglomerular mesangial cells
o Between afferent & efferent arterioles
o Continuous with intraglomerular mesangial
cells
 General Stuff Histology
Ureter - tubular organ
- muscular tube, retroperitoneal
- conducts urine from renal pelvis to urinary bladder
- lumen is star-shaped
o longitudinal folds in mucosa
Mucosa:
- transitional epithelium !!!!
o cuboidal cells (basal)
§ stem cells, regenereating
o pear shaped cells (intermediate)
§ dilated apical pole, narrow basal pole
§ attachted by desmosomes
o umbrella cells (superficial)
§ large, with big apical pole
§ round nucleus
§ attachted by occlusive junctions
- lamina propria à CT
Muscular coat:
- smooth muscle fibers
- upper 2/3
o inner = longitudinal
o outer = circular
- lower 1/3
o additional outer layer
Adventitia:
- outermost coat of ureter & peritoneal serosa anteriorly
 General Stuff Histology
Hypophysis - pituitary fossa of sphenoid bone
Adenohypophysis:
(Pituitary - anterior lobe
gland) - endocrine gland
Pars distalis:
- capsule
o fibrous CT
- stroma
o CT septa
o Reticular fibers
- Parenchyma
o Clusters of cells !!!
§ Chromophobes
• no colour
• No secretory granules
§ Chromophils
• affinity for dyes
• acidophilic cells 40%
o large granules
o small, round, red
• basophilic cells 10%
o blue granules
§ Capillaries
Pars intermedia:
- Rathke cysts !!!
o Eosinophilic colloid
- Simple cuboidal epithelium

 Neurohypophysis: pars intermedia with Rathke cysts !!!
- Posterior lobe
- No endocrine gland
- Storage site for neurosecretions (hypothalamus)
o Oxytocin
o Vasopressin
- Unmyelinated xons of HAT neurons
- Herring bodies
o Accumulation of neurosecretory granules
o Beside capillaries
- Pale stain
- Pituicytes & capillaries are present
-
 General Stuff Histology
Thyroid - Capsule
- Stroma
gland o Septa à lobules
o Intra-lobular stroma
o Reticular fibers
- Parenchyma
o Organized into lobules
o Endocrine cells arranges into follicles !!!
o Capillaries
Follicles:
- Cyst-like structures
- Follicular epithelium – simple
o Follicular cells
§ Produce T3 & T4
o Parafollicular cells
§ C-cells Clara cells
§ No exposure to lumen
§ Small clusters between follicles
§ Pale staining
§ Secrete calcitonin
- Follicular lumen
o Containing colloid
o Stores secretion
- Surrounded by reticular fibers network
- Differetn stages:
o Normal function = medium size (moderate
eosinophilic)
o Hypofuntion = large size (eosinophilic–pale)
o Hyperfunction = small size (basophilic-dark)
 General Stuff Histology
Parathyroid - Small endocrine glands
- Lateral in CT of thyroid gland
gland - Parenchymal organ
o Capsule
o Stroma
o Parenchyma
- Cheif cells:
o Numerous
o Regulate synthesis, storage & secretion of
PTH
o Round with dark central nucleus
o Pale basophilic cytoplasm
§ Glycogen, small lipid droplets
o PTH & calcitonin have reciprocal effects on
calcium regulation
- Oxyphil cells:
o Larger
o Rare before puberty
o No secretory role
o Singly or in clusters
o Small, round, dark nuclei
o Eosinophilic cytoplasm
 General Stuff Histology
Suprarenal - Upper poles of kindeys
- Endocrine
gland Adrenal cortex: !!!
- Synthesizes & secrets steroid hormones
- Endocrine cells arranged into cords
- Glomerulosa (15%)
o Subcapsular zone
o Arched clusters of columnar cells
§ Acidophilic cytoplasm
§ Basophilic nuclei
o Sinusoids
o Mineralocorticoid secretion
- Fasciculata (70%)
o Largest region
o Cells in long parallel cords
§ Separated by capillaries
o Large, polygonal cells
§ Pale cytoplasm
§ Lipid droplets
o Glucocorticoids secretion
- Reticularis (15%)
o Anastomozing cells with
capillary netweork in between
o Acidophilic cytoplasm, dark
staining, round nc
o Androgens secretion



Adrenal medulla: !!!
- Synthesizes & secrets epinephrine,
norepinephrine ...
- Central portion
- Chromaffin cells:
o Produce catecholamines
§ Epinephrine
§ Norepinephrine
o Large basophilic cells in
clusters/cords
o Pale purpe cytoplasm with
granules
- Sympathetic ganglion cells:
o Large cells surrounding
chromaffin cells
Testis - Parenchymal organ
Capsule:
- Tunica vaginalis
o Parietal layer – lining scrotum
o Serous cavity, filled with fluid
o Visceral layer – attatched to surface of testis
- Tunica albuginea
o Dense irregular CT, fibro-elastic
o Thicker posteriorly to form mediastinum
- Tunica vasculosa
o Loose CT with many blood vessels
Stroma:
- Interlobular stroma
o Septa limiting the lobules
- Intralobular stroma
o Loose CT
o Rich in vessels & nerves
o Small clusters of endocrine cells of Leydig !!!
Parenchyma:
- Devided into lobules (ca. 250)
o Pyramid-like structure
o Each lobule with 1-4 seminiferous tubules
Seminiferous tubules: !!!
- Tunica propria: !!!
o Loose CT, collagen type 1 & myoid cells
o Arranged concentrically around tubules
o Blood & lymphatic vessels
- Seminiferous epithelium
o Stratified
o Sertoli cells – supporting & nutritive role
o Spermatogenic cells – production of spermatozoa
 Sertoli cells:
- Columnar supporting cells
- 10% of cells in adult testis
- send processes (like branching tree)
- basal, oval nucleus with large, central nucleolus
- cytoplasm with lipid droplets & pigment granules
- regulate nutrition of spermatogenic cells
- phagocyte cellular elements
- secrete testicular fluid & androgen binding protein &
collagen
Blood-Testis barrier:
- fenestrated capillary, tunica propria with myoid & Sertoli
cells
- tight junctions between the Sertoli cells
o basal epithelial compartment:
§ spermatogonia
o adluminal compartment
§ spermatocytes
Spermatogenic cells:
- Spermatogonia
o Small diploid germ cells, on basal membrane in
basal epithelial compartment
o Type A dark, type A pale, type B
o Pale basophilic cytoplasm, round pale or dark
nuclei
o After division they form primary spermatocytes
- Primary spermatocytes
o Beside spermatogonia
o Largest cells in seminiferous epithelium
o Migrate into adluminal compartment

 o After division they form 2 secondary
spermatocytes
- Secondary spermatocytes
o Next to primary, towards lumen
o Smaller, short-lived cells
o Cannot be identified on optic microscope
o After division they form each 2 spermatids
- Spermatids
o Small, round cells with large hyperchrome nucleus
§ Lie in groups close to lumen
o By spermiogenesis they give rise to spermatozoa
o Released from Sertoli cells into lumen of
seminiferous tubule
- Spermatozoa
o Long cells, display a head containing dark nucleus
o Tail oriented towards lumen
Interstitial cells of Leydig:
- In interstitial loose CT
- Between seminiferous tubules
- In small clusters close to blood vessels
- Large, eosinophilic cells with round, dark nucleus
o With lipid droplets, secreting testosterone
- Contain crystals of Reinke (protein)
 General Stuff Histology
Prostate - Parenchymal organ
- Surrounds urethra close to exiting
point from urinary bladder
- 3 concentric layers:
o mucosa
o submucosa
o peripheral
à open in urethra
Capsule:
- Dense CT
- Elastic fibers
- Blood vessels & smooth muscle cells
- Sends septa which devide gland into
ill-defined lobules
Stroma:
- Dense irregular CT
- Derived from capsule
- Many collagen fibers & smooth muscle
fibers !!!!
- Fibroblasts & vessels
Parenchyma:
- Compound tubulo-alveolar glands !!!
o With secretory units &
excretory ducts
 Distinct zones:
- Central (18-20%)
o Surrounds ejaculatory ducts
o Posterior part of gland
o Has large proper prostatic glands
§ Compound tubulo-alveolar glands
à secretory unit
§ Pseudostrat. columnar epi
§ Columnar cells
§ Basal cells
à excretory unit
• Simple columnar epi.
• Transitional epithelium of urethra
§ Irregular contour
§ Papillary infoldings !!!
- Peripheral (70-75%)
o Largest landular area of prostate
o Contains medium-sized submucosal glands
- Transitional (5%)
o Zone around prostatic urethra
o Contains small mucosal glands
- Anterior
o Area with fibro-muscular stroma
o Without glandular parenchyma
Glandular epithelium:
- Lining prostate glands
- Tall columnar cells or cuboidal cells
o Pale cytoplasm
o At basal part of cell


 - Basal cells
o Small, dark nucleus
o In contact with basement membrane
- Adenomers present irregular lumen
o Papillary infoldings
- Simple to pseudostratifies epithelium
Corpora amylacea: !!!
- Key element for diagnosis
- Calcified glycoproteins in lumen of glands
o basophilic
 General Stuff Histology
Ovary - parenchymal organ !!!
- exocrine glands = oocyte
- endocrine gland = steroids (estrogen & progesteron)
- germinal epithelium !!!
- stroma & parenchyma
Parenchyma:
- devided into cortex & medulla !!!
- medulla is inner part, merges with mesovarium
- Medulla:
o Central region
o Loose CT
o Large, colloid vessels, lymphatics & nerves
o Clusters of interstitial cells
§ Secrete androgen
o Rete ovarii
§ Ducts lined by cuboidal epithelium
§ Equivalent to rete testis in male
Germinal epithelium:
- No capsule !!!
- Simple cuboidal epithelium
o Covers ovary & continuous with mesothelium
- Beneath epithelium is dense CT à tunica albuginea
o Collagen fibers type 1 (increase with age)
- Stroma
o Young, embryonic CT
o Closely packed fibroblast-like cells (helical texture)
§ Dependent on hormonal stimulation
§ Provides tructural support in cortex
§ Secretes hormones
 Development & maturation of ovarian follicles:
- Appearance of ovarian cortex depends on aga & stage of
ovarian cycle
- Ovarian follicles in various stages:
o Primordial follicle
o Primary follicle – unilaminar & multilaminar
o Secondary follicle
o Tertiary follicle (mature)
§ Corpus luteus
§ Corpus albicans
o Follicle stimulation hormones (FSH)
§ Secreted by anteroir hypophysis
§ Cause maturation of ovarian follicles
Primordial follicle:
- Smallest, at periphery of cortex
- Beneath tunica albuginea
- Contains primary oocyte
o Large, spherical cell
o With large nucleus & prominent nucleolus
- Follicular cells
o Squamous cells
o Separated from surrounding stromab y basal lamina
Unilaminar primary follicle:
- Primary oocyte increses diameter
- Zona pellucida
o Eosinophilic layer between oocyte & granular cells
o Nourishes oocyte
- Granulosa cells
o Cuboidal to columnar cells
o Single layer on basement membrane
 Multilaminar primary follicle: Corpus luteum:
- Proliferation in unilaminar follicle results in stratifies
follicular epithelium
- Follicular cells à granulosa cells
o Form membrane granulosa
- Stromal cells differentiate into:
o Theca interna (endocrine function)
§ Secrete androgens
o Theca externa (provides protection)
§ Dense, fibrous CT
§ Collagen fibers
§ Few muscle cells
§ Many blood vessels
à surround growing follicle
Secondary follicle:
- Primary oocyte – surrounded by zona pellucida
- Membrana granulosa
o Cuboidal to columnar strat. epi.
o Granulosa cells secreting follicular fluid
o Fluid accumulates & fuses to form large antrum
o Theca interna – separated from membrana
granulosa
o Theca externa – becomes more obvious at periphery
Mature follicle:
- Very large (2,5 cm diameter)
- Antrum enlarges & pushes oocyte to periphery
- Granulosa cells form cumulus oophorus
- Cells that directly surround oocyte = corona radiata
 Ovulation:
- Rupture of mature follicle & releasing of secondary oocyte
is arrested in metaphase 2
- Antrum collapses
o Influence of LH
§ Granulosa cells à granulosa lutein cells
• In center of corpus luteum
• Large cells
• Big nucleus
• Secrete progersterone
§ Cels of theca interna à theca lutein cells
• Smaller cells
• At periphery of corpus luteum
• Acidophilic cytoplasm
• Nucleus dark
• Secrete estrogens
Corpus luteum:
- Is the remaining oft he follicular wall – folded
- Only temporary
- Functions as endocrine gland
o Progesterone & estrogen
o Prepare uterine mucosa
- If ovum not fertilized, corpus luteum degenerates (9 days
after ovulation)
à corpus luteum of menstruation (1,5-2 cm)
- If ovum fertilized, corpus luteum increases in size
à corpus luteum of pregnancy (4-5 cm)
- Some blood vessels leak back into follicular cavity & form
blood clot (corpus hemorrhagicus)
- CT from stroma into follicular cavity
o Forms central part of corpus luteum
 Corpus albicans:
- Small scar
o Formed by leftovers of corpus luteum after ist
degeneration
o Large, ovoid white scar – irregular shape
o Fibrous CT
o In deep ovarian coretx
o Stays for long period, after is absorbed by
macrophages
 General Stuff Histology
Uterus - Muscular cavity organ !!!
- 3 tunics !!!
Endometrium:
- mucosa of uterine body
- functional layer
o thick, superficial
o sloughed & reestablished every month during
menstrual cycle
- basal layer
o preserved during menstruation
o ist glands & CT regenerate functional layer each
month
- cyclic changes due to hormones
- surface epithelium !!!
o simple columanr
- lamina propria
- uterine glands / glandular epithelium !!!
o formed by invagination of surface epithelium
o in underlying lamina propria
o simple tubular glands (may branch)
o basal part regenerates mucosa
§ mucosa is removed during menstrual cycle
§ secrete mucus & glycogen in secretory phase
o lamina propria / stroma
§ dense irregular CT
§ collagen fibers
1. Menstrual phase (days 1-4)
- Contraction & relaxation of coiled arteries
- Functional layer is necrosed
- Basal layer remains intact à endometrium starts regenerat.
 2. Proliferative stage (days 4-14)
- Mitotic activity is increased by estrogen secretion
- New endometrial glands & stroma grow from basal
endometrium
- Basophilia !!!
- Uterine glands
o Long, straight, numerous
o Active epithelial cells with basophilic cytoplasm
- Stroma
o Made up of fibroblasts & reticular fibers
3. Secretory phase (days 15-28)
- Influence of progesterone
- Endometrium becomes thicker
- Acidophilia !!!
- Uterine glands
o Secrete glycogen, accumulated in lumen
o Become coiled, large
o Lumen becomes irregular, filled with secretion
- Mitosis is rare
Myometrium:
- Thickest tunic
- Smooth muscle cells in 3 layers !!!
o Inner = longitudinal & circular
o Middle = circular (stratum vasculare)
o Outer = longitudinal
- Muscle cells contract under influence of oxytocin
- Large blood vessels
Perimetrium:
- Serosa – covers surface (mesothelium + CT, intraperiton.) !!
- Adventitia – CT (retroperitoneal)
 General Stuff Histology
Placenta - Endocrine structure
Fetal component:
- Derives from trophoblastic cells
- Chorionic plate (extraembryonic mesenchymal CT)
- Villi (arise from chorionic plate)
o Mesenchymal core:
§ Vascular channel
§ Mesenchymal cells
§ Fibroblasts, myofibroblasts
§ Reticular cells
§ Smooth muscle cells early placenta:
§ Hoffbauer cells
• Placental immune reaction
o Trophoblast
§ Epithelium lines villi at periphery
§ Inner cellular layer
• Cytotrophoblast
• Mitotically active cells
• Large, pale basophilic
• In 2. half of pregnancy they regress
§ Outer multinucleated layer
• Syncytiotrophoblast
• Dark, basophilic cells
o Villi in intervillous space (lacunae)
o Tertiary villi give rise to branches




Maternal component: at time placenta:
- Decidua basalis
o Implantation site
o Contains decidual cells
§ Produce proslactin & prostaglandin
o Glands secret glycogen & lipids in first half of
pregnancy
- Placental septa
o Projections of decidua basalis tissue between villi
o Divide fetal placenta into cotyledons (8-25)
Chorionic villi:
- Appearance of villi changes in time
- Early pregnancy:
o Larger !!!
o Core
§ Loose, embryonic CT
§ Fibroblasts
§ Hofbauer cells
§ Central capillaries
o Lined by trophoblasts
§ Cytotrophoblasts (inner layer)
§ Syncytiotrophoblasts (outer layer)
o Between villi is maternal blood in lacunae
- At term – 9 months:
o Smaller !!!
o Core
§ Dense, fibrous CT
§ Fewer cells, many collagen fibers
o Capillary close to periphery – own blood supply !!!
o Lined by syncytiotrophoblasts à syncytial knot
 General Stuff Histology
Mammary - Covered by skin The more stroma you see, the less milk is produced !!! (if more
- Stroma à CT component stroma than lobules)
Glands - Parenchyma à epithelial component
- Compound tubulo-alveolar glands
- Adipose & fibrous CT
- 15-20 lobes, each lobe with own lactiferous duct
Resting mammary glands:
- large mount of stroma
- small amount of parenchyma
- mainly fibrous CT with adipose tissue
Stroma:
- Intralobular stroma
o Loose CT
o Derived from papillary layer of dermis
o Is between intralobular ducts
- Interlobular stroma
o Dense, fibrous CT with reticular fibers
o Adipose tissue
o Derived from reticular layer of dermis
o Is between interlobular ducts
Parenchyma:
- Lobes with mainly excretory ducts
o Lactiferous ducts (main ducts):
§ Largest excretory duct
§ Opens on surface of nipple
§ Beneath nipple is lactiferous sinus
• Reservoir for milk
§ Lined by strat. cuboidal epi.
§ Surrounded by fibro-collagenous tissue
 o Interlobular ducts:
§ Lead to lactiferous duct
§ Simple columnar epi. à myoepi. cells
o Intralobular ducts:
§ Single layer of cuboidal / low columnar
cells
§ With few myoepi. cells
§ End in clusters of cells à terminal
ductules
• Differentiate to functional
secretory alveoli during
pregnancy & lactation
§ Surrounded by loose CT
Mammary gland in pregnancy:
- First half of pregnancy
o Intralobular ducts
§ Rapid proliferation
§ Branch
§ Form alveoli
o Intralobular stroma
§ Decrease in amount
§ Infiltrated with lymphocytes, plasma
cells, leukocytes
o Interlobular stroma
§ Decreases in amount
Active (lactating) mammary glands:
- Larger than resting due to development of alveoli
- Parenchyma = well represented
- Stroma = weakly represented

 Parenchyma:
- Lobes & lobules
- Contain secretory alveoli (acini)
- Fewer excretory ducts
- Lobule à all alveoli that empty into intralobular duct
Stroma:
- Intralobular stroma = within lobule
- Interlobular stroma = separates lobules
- Dense CT & adipose tissue
- Contain interlobular excretory ducts
Alveoli:
- Plygonal
- Simple cuboidal epithelium & myoepithelial cells
- New formed alveoli enlarge & begin to secret
colostrum
o Rich in proteins & lactose
- Eosinophilic secretions in lumen (milk)
- Fibrous CT is decreased

 General Stuff Characteristic Histology
Stuff
Lip - Outer surface of lip (covered by skin)
o Epidermis: strat. Squam. Keratinized
epi.
o Dermis: CT, containing hair follicles,
sweat & sebaceous glands
- Inner surface of lip (covered by lining oral
mucosa)
o Strat. Squam. Non-keratinized epi.,
thicker than epidermis
o Lamina propria with minor salivary
glands
- Vermilion of lip (mucocutaneous junction)
o Strat. Squam. Keratinized epi.,
containing eleidin
o Good vascularization & innervation of
lamina propria
- Central axis
o Striated orbicularis oris muscle, in
concentric bundles
o Variable amount of CT, vessels &
nerves
Tongue - Ventral surface - Filiform
o Covered by smooth non-papillate - Fungiform
lining oral mucosa - Circumvallate
- Central axis contains - Foliate
o Striated lingual muscles arranged in
right angles, perpendicular bundles Fungiform,
o Small amount of CT, vessels & nerves circumvallate, foliate
- Dorsal surface (anterior 2/3) papillae contain
o Covered by specialized oral mucosa taste buds
o Lingual papillae

 General Stuff Characteristic Stuff Histology
Salivary Glands - Parenchymal organ, Major:
composed of capsule & - Parotid
stroma o Serous
o Well
Capsule: developed
- Dense irregular CT inercalated
- Well defined around parotid & striated
& submandibular ducts
Stroma: - Submandibular
- Extralobular stroma o Mixed,
o Large CT septa mostly
- Intralobular stroma serous
o Reticulin network o Poorly
developed
Parenchyma: intercalated
- Acini ducts
o Serous, mucous or - Sublingual
mixed o Mixed,
o Surrounded by mostly
myoepithelial cells mucous
- Ducts o Intercalated
o Intralobular ducts & striated
(intercalated - & ducts are
striated ducts) short
o Interlobular ducts (= Minor:
extralobular ducts – - Within lamina
inkl. Interlobar) propria of oral
o Main duct (= extralob.) mucosa