HISTOLOGY REVIEWER (MEDICAL APPLICATION)

Epithelial Tissue
Name of Disease Affected Component Description
Blistering (bullous) diseases Epidermis Abnormal desmosome function due to
Stratified squamous epithelia autoimmune reactions against specific
desmogleins that reduce cell-to-cell adhesion
Food poisoning Tight junctions Enterotoxin secreted by Clostridium perfringens
Zonula occludens prevents insertion of proteins during the
maintenance of tight junctions; causes loss of
tissue fluid
Gastric ulcers Tight junctions Binds the extracellular domains of tight junction
proteins in cells of the stomach
Celiac disease or Small intestine Loss of microvilli brush border of the cells;
Gluten-sensitive enteropathy Microvilli immune reaction against gluten during digestion
Or sprue
Immotile cilia syndrome or Cilia Chronic respiratory infections caused by the lack
Kartagener syndrome Flagella of cleansing action of cilia; immotile sperm
Chronic bronchitis Goblet cells Increased number of goblet cells that causes an
excess production in areas where there are few
ciliated cells
Acne Holocrene sebaceous glands Excessive holocrene secretion of sebum and
Acne vulgaris keratin triggered by testosterone; or by skin
bacteria
Carcinoma Epithelial cells Malignant tumor of epithelial cells
Adenocarcinoma Glandular epithelial cells Malignant tumor of glandular epithelial cells
Dysplasia Epithelial tissues Abnormal growth
Neoplasia Epithelial tissues Precancerous growth
Metaplasia Epithelial tissues Transformation in another type
Chronic vitamin A deficiency Epithelial tissues Tissues found in bronchi and urinary bladder are
gradually replaced by stratified squamous
HISTOLOGY REVIEWER (MEDICAL APPLICATION)
Bone Tissue
Name of Disease Affected Component Description
Osteosarcoma Osteoprogenitor cells Bone cancer
Osteopetrosis Osteoclasts Dense, heavy bones
Osteoclasts lack ruffled borders
Bone resorption defective
Osteoporosis Imbalance in skeletal turn over
Bone resorption exceeds bone formation
Calcium loss in bones
Osteomalacia Calcium deficiency in adults
Bone mineralization is impaired
Deficient calcification of newly formed bone
Partial decalcification of calcified matrix
Osteitis fibrosa cystic Osteoclast Increased osteoclast activity
Results in removal of bone matrix and fibrous
degeneration
Osteogenesis imperfecta Osteoblast Osteoblast produce deficient amounts of type I
collagen due to genetic mutations
Rickets Bone matrix Calcium deficiency in children
Epiphyseal plate Bone matrix does not calcify normallt
Epiphyseal plate distorted by the normal strains of
the body weight
Bone fracture Bone Disrupts blood vessels, causing bone cells near the
break to die
Produces hematoma (blood hemorrhage)
Pituitary dwarfism GH or somatotropin Lack of GH
IGF-1 or somatomedin
Gigantism GH or somatotropin Excess production of GH
IGF-1 or somatomedin
Acromegaly GH Increase in GH in adults
The (long) bones become very thick
Rheumatoid arthritis Synovial membrane Inflammation of the synovial membrane
Cause destruction of the articular cartilage,
allowing direct contact of bones
Slipped or herniated disc Annulus fibrosus Displacement of the nucleus pulposus
Disc frequently dislocates or shifts from its original
position
HISTOLOGY REVIEWER (MEDICAL APPLICATION)
Muscle Tissue
Name of Disease Description
Hypertrophy Increase in cell volume
Hyperplasia Increase in cell number
Myasthenia gravis Autoimmune disorder that involves circulating antibodies against
acetylcholine receptors
Skeletal weakness
Receptors are unresponsive to acetylcholine
Duchenne muscular dystrophy Mutations of the dystrophin gene
Defective linkages between the cytoskeleton and ECM
Muscle contraction disrupts the weak linkages
Ischemia or anoxia Tissue damage lack due to oxygen (cardiac)
Coronary arteries are occluded by heart disease
Leiomyomas Benign tumors in smooth muscle fibers
Fibroids Leiomyomas in the uterus

Blood
Name of Disease Description
Sickle cell disease Altered hemoglobin (HbS) forms rigid aggregates that causes a sickle shape
causing the erythrocyte to be less flexible, more fragile, and have a short
lifespan that can lead to anemia
Pus Apoptopic neutrophils, bacteria, semidigested material, and tissue fluid
form viscous yellow collection of fluid
Eosinophilia Increase in the number of eosinophils
Associated with allergy and helminth parasitic infections
Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic Basophils and mast cells rapidly degranulate, causing vasodilation in many
shock organs, a sudden drop in pressure compromising a lethal condition
Lymphomas Neoplastic proliferation of lymphocytes or failure to undergo apoptosis;
malignant
Acute inflammation Macrophages undergo apoptosis, or leave the site
Chronic inflammation Continued recruitment of monocytes; increased tissue damage
Bleeding disorders Results from the abnormally slow blood clotting
Glycoprotein Ib deficiency Involves a factor on the platelet surface needed to bind subendothelial
collagen and causes clot formation

Hemopoiesis
Name of Disease Description
Leukopenia Low white blood cell count
Neutrophilia Increase in the number of circulating neutrophils
Leukemia Abnormal proliferation of stem cell in bone marrow
Malignant clones of leukocyte precursors
(Lymphoblastic or Myelogenous leukemia)
Thrombocytopenia Reduction in the number of circulating platelets
Ineffective megakaryopoiesis Deficiencies in folic acid or vitamin B12
Thrombocytopenic purpura Platelet function is compromised usually by autoimmune reactions
HISTOLOGY REVIEWER (MEDICAL APPLICATION)
Nerve Tissue
Name of Disease Description
Parkinson’s disease Slowly progressing disorder affecting muscular activity
Loss by apoptosis of dopamine-producing neurons whose cell bodies lie
within the nuclei of the CNS substantia nigra
Astrocytomas Brain tumors derived from glial cells
Alzheimer disease Dementia in the elderly
Affects both the neuronal perikarya and synapses within the cerebrum
Neurofibrillary tangles Accumulation of the tau protein
Neuritic plaques Dense aggregates of beta-amyloid protein
Multiple sclerosis Myelin sheaths surrounding the axons are damaged by an autoimmune
mechanism
Hydrocephalus Decrease in the absorption of the CSF or a blockage of outflow from the
ventricles during fetal or post-natal development
Enlargement of head, mental impairment
Neuroma Swelling due to newly growing axons