Human Biology Laboratory Exercise 2

Tissues

Objectives:

1. Identify and draw examples of four main tissue categories

2. Explain the features and functions of the main tissue groups

Materials:

1. Lab Exercise & Report word documents

2. Pre-laboratory PowerPoint
3. Videos and photos of lab procedures
4. Additional required lab readings/required lab readings

Instructions

1. Identify the key types of tissues.

2. Differentiate the types of tissues based on their respective characteristics.
3. Accomplish the lab report.

Introduction

Tissues refer to the groups of cells that work together for a specific bodily function, and the study of
these structure are termed as histology. Tissues serve varying functions, ranging from support,
movement, coordination of functions, and barriers against foreign material.

Despite the differences in the function and types of cells that comprise it, tissues in general feature a
matrix, a material that surrounds the cells and is filled by proteins produced by the cells.

There are four different types of tissues, which are epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues.

Epithelial tissues are usually very thin and feature little extracellular material. They lie on top of the
extracellular tissues and often have nerve endings despite the lack of blood vessels. They often serve as
barriers against pathogens but still allows entrance of important materials like water and oxygen.

Connective tissues, on the other hand, are rich in extracellular material. In fact, the matrix occupies the
majority of the tissue and it determines its function. Liquid matrix in connective tissues like blood allows
for the transport of materials while mineralized matrix allows for the support for the weight of the
entire organism. Connective tissues that support the body include the bone, cartilage, and dense regular
connective tissue. Energy storage is another function of the adipose tissue. Meanwhile, tissues like the
dense irregular and loose areolar connective tissues surround organs.

Muscular or muscle tissues are cells that are capable of shorten and contract to produce movement.
There are three types of muscle tissues. Skeletal muscles are attached to bones and allow for external
body movements. Cardiac muscles is found in the heart, while smooth muscles is involuntary and are
found in the digestive tracts and the blood vessels.
Nervous tissue, on the other hand, send and receive messages through impulses and most of them are
found in the brain and the spinal cord. The main composition of this tissue are the neurons, although it
is also comprised by neuroglial cells.

Procedure

The development of H&E stains for tissues feature multiple parts, which include the following:

1. Dewaxing – which is needed to remove the paraffin used to fix the tissues from the slide prior to
the addition of the dye.
2. Dehydration, or the removal of water, is needed to remove the water from the solvents to make
it easier to remove the paraffin
3. Hematoxylin is then added to the slide to dye to specifically stain nuclear components like
chromatin and the nucleoli
4. Differentiation step is often added to the protocol in creating the H&E stains and it is needed to
selectively remove stains from the slides.
a. Hydrochloric acid is added for faster differentiation
b. Acetic acid is needed for slower and more controlled differentiation.
5. Bluing is the process that is used to convert the red hematoxylin to a blue color observed in the
slides. This process is caused by the slightly basic pH of the bluing solutions
6. Eosin is then added as a counterstain, and it is used to distinguish the cytoplasm and its contents
from the rest of the cell. A common form of Eosin used is the Eosin Y, which could be used in
water and alcohol solutions.
7. Another step of dehydration is performed.
8. Clearing removes the dehydrating agent from the tissues before the final steps of the specimen
preparation is performed.
9. Cover slip is added to protect the prepared slide
Laboratory Report 2

Name:

Year and Section

Draw the following tissues on a separate piece of paper and label the structures listed if present. In
addition, identify the potential sources of the tissue illustrated. There should be four images per paper

1. Squamous epithelium
a. Simple squamous epithelium
i. Cells
1. Nucleus
2. Cell membrane
b. Simple cuboidal
i. Cuboidal cells
1. Cell membrane
2. Nucleus
ii. Basement membrane
c. Simple columnar
i. Columnar cells
1. Cell membrane
2. Nucleus
ii. Goblet cell
d. Pseudostratified epithelium
i. Cells
1. Cell membrane
2. Nucleus
ii. Apical membrane
1. Cilia
2. Stratified epithelium
a. Stratified squamous epithelium
i. Squamous cell layer
ii. Germinating layer
iii. Component cells
1. Cell membrane
2. Nucleus
b. Stratified columnar epithelium
i. Component cells
1. Cell membrane
2. Nucleus
c. Stratified cuboidal epithelium
i. Component cells
1. Cell membrane
2. Nucleus
d. Keratinized epithelium
 e. Transitional epithelium
3. Connective tissue
a. Osseus (Bone) Tissue
i. Lacuna
ii. Haversian canal
iii. Matrix
iv. Osteocyte
b. Connective tissue proper
i. Areolar connective tissue
1. Fibroblast
2. Collagen fiber
3. Macrophage
4. Elastic Fiber
ii. Adipose connective tissue
1. Number of fat cells
2. Vacuole containing fat droplets
iii. Reticular connective tissue
1. Lymphocytes
2. Reticular fibers
3. Reticular cells
iv. Dense regular connective tissue
1. Collagen fibers
2. Fibroblast cells
v. Dense irregular connective tissue
1. Collagen fibers
2. Fibroblast cells
vi. Elastic connective tissue
1. Fibroblasts
2. Elastic fibers
c. Cartilage
i. Elastic cartilage
1. Chondrocyte
2. Chondroblasts
3. Lacunae
4. Perichondrium
5. Fibroblasts
6. Elastic fibers
ii. Hyaline cartilage
1. Chondrocyte
2. Lacuna
3. Matrix
4. Perichondrium
iii. Fibrocartilage
1. Chondrocyte
 2. Collagen fibers
3. Lacuna
d. Blood
i. Plasma
ii. Basophil
iii. Lymphocyte
iv. Monocyte
v. Neutrophil
vi. Erythrocyte
vii. Eosinophil
4. Nervous Tissue
a. Dendrites
b. Cell body
c. Supporting cells
d. Axon

Guide questions

1. Differentiate the structures of the cells that comprise the smooth muscle, skeletal muscle, and
the cardiac muscle cells. Relate the structures with their respective functions and metabolic
procedures.

2. What are the functions of the glial cells that often surround the axon of the nerve cell?

3. What are the materials the comprise the matrix of the connective tissues? How do these
materials affect the function of the specific connective tissues?

4. Describe the process behind the development of the stratified squamous epithelium found in
the skin. What is the significance of keratinization?