Faculty of

Medicine
Medical Education-
Damietta
University

Level 1
Semester 1
Module 1A
 Practice points
• DR Ahmed is a pathologist. He
received a postmortem biopsy from the
heart of 85 years old man and noticed a
brown coloration of the biopsy in fresh
state?

• On the microscopic examination which

type of pigments did he find in the
biopsy??
By the end of the lecture, the students will be able to:

• Identify different types of cytoplasmic inclusions.

• Differentiate between the various structures in the nucleus.
 Lecture Outline

Cytoplasmic inclusions
• Stored food (Lipid droplets, Glycogen)
• Pigments
• Cytosol
• Crystals

Nucleus:
• Nuclear envelope
• Chromatin
• Nucleolus
• Nucleoplasm
• Cytoplasmic structures with characteristic staining properties that are
formed from the metabolic products of cell.
• They are considered nonmoving and nonliving components of the
cell.
• Some of them are surrounded by a plasma membrane (pigment
granules), others are not surrounded by a plasma membrane (lipid
droplets & glycogen).
• Not present in all cells.
• Have little or no metabolic activity (unlike organelles).
 H&E Osmic acid TEM

• Small spherical structures with homogenous matrix.

• Not surrounded by a membrane.
• In routine processing of tissue for paraffin sections, fat droplets are
generally removed, leaving empty spaces in the cells.
 α-granules β-granules PAS

• Non membranous electron dense granules.

• Abundant in cells with high metabolic activity.
• Show periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) positive reaction.
• β-glycogen granules (in the muscle) individual glycogen granules
found in the muscle cells.
• α-glycogen granules (in the liver) formed of several β-granules
arranged in a broccoli-like or rosette like fashion.
 Pigments

Exogenous Endogenous
• Lipochrome pigments: e.g. • Melanin
carotene • Lipofuscin pigment
• Dust • Hemosiderin
• Minerals • Haemoglobin & Haemoglobin
• Tattoo marks derivatives e.g. bilirubin
▪ Melanin:
Dark brown granules in skin serve to protect
cells from ultraviolet radiation.

▪ Lipofuscin (wear & tear) pigment:

Pale brown granule found in many cells,
especially in stable nondividing cells (e.g.,
neurons, cardiac muscle), containing
accumulating by-product of lysosomal
digestion in long-lived cells.

▪ Hemosiderin:
A dense brown aggregate of ferritin proteins in
phagocytic cells of the lung and liver, where it
results from phagocytosis of red blood cells.
 Dust

• Small dust particles are inhaled

enter the respiratory system.
• Phagocytozed by macrophages in
the lung black pigmentation.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/352969689518013951/
▪ Viscous fluid medium with
dissolved solutes (e.g. ions,
proteins, carbohydrates,
lipids).

▪ Provides support for

organelles; serves as the
viscous fluid medium through
which diffusion occurs.
Differentiate between the various structures in the nucleus
- The nucleus is the command center of the cell.
- It is a large rounded or oval structure often near
the cell’s center.
- It contains genetic material deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA), which encodes all cell structures and
functions.
- Function:
1. Cellular regulation:
Houses genetic material, which directs all cellular
activities and regulates cellular structure.
2. Production:
Produces ribosomal subunits in nucleolus and exports
them into cytoplasm for assembly into ribosomes.
Number
- Absent: in RBCs
- Mononucleated cells:
Cells having one nucleus (in most cells)
- Binucleated cells:
- Cells having 2 nuclei (some liver cells)
- Mulitnucleated cells:
- Cells having more than two nuclei (osteoclast,
skeletal muscle cells)
▪ Size:
The nucleus may be small, medium-
sized or large.
May reach 25 µm in the ovum and
some ganglion cells.

▪ Shape:
It differs in different cells.
They may be flattened, oval, rounded,
kidney-shaped, bilobed, segmented or
lobulated
• The nucleus tends to occupy the widest part of the cell.
• It may be:

1) Central
2) Peripheral
3) Eccentric
4) Basal
- In H&E stained sections:
The nucleus is basophilic, it stains blue with haematoxylin.
Its basophilia is due to its content of nucleic acids.
- The nucleus may appear:
a) Vesicular (or Open- face) nucleus:
- Lightly stained.
- Looks like a vesicle (its details could be seen).
- It is seen in metabolically active cells
e.g. nuclei of nerve cells and liver cells.
- In H&E stained sections:

b) Condensed nucleus:
- It is a deeply stained.
- No details could be seen inside.
- It is seen in metabolically inactive cells
e.g. nuclei of small lymphocytes.
 Chromatin Nuclear envelope

Nucleolus

- Interphase nuclei (non-dividing) are formed of:

Nucleoplasm
1. Nuclear envelope
2. Chromatin
3. Nucleolus
4. Nucleoplasm
• Selectively permeable barrier between the
nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments.
• single basophilic line due to peripheral
chromatin on its inner surface.
• Function:
1-It separates the nucleus from the surrounding
cytoplasm. Nuclear envelope

2-It allows exchange of materials between the

nucleus and the surrounding cytoplasm through
the nuclear pores.
• LM: Basophilic line due to attached ribosomes
& chromatin
1. Inner nuclear membrane: Outer nuclear
- Lacks ribosomes and is in contact with envelope

the nuclear chromatin. Nuclear

pore
2. Outer nuclear membrane:
- Continuous with the rER.
3. Perinuclear space: (30-50 nm)
- The nuclear membrane is interrupted by Perinuclear
many nuclear pores. space

Inner nuclear
4. Nuclear pores regulate the movement of envelope
macro-molecules (ribosomal subunits &
enzymes) between nucleus and cytoplasm.
 Chromatin

Definition:
Basophilic material of which
chromosomes are formed.
Structure:
It is formed of deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) + histone protein.
1. Euchromatin (extended)
2. Heterochromatin (condensed):
- Peripheral chromatin
- Chromatin islands
- Nucleolus-associated chromatin
Euchromatin

Heterochromatin Nucleolus-associated chromatin

Peripheral chromatin
Chromatin islands
 Euchromatin
(Extended chromatin)
1- Structure It represents the extended
parts of the chromosomal
threads.
2- Activity Its genes are active.
3- function It directs protein synthesis in
the cell.
4- With LM It is not visible with LM
(It appears as clear areas).
5- With EM It is seen, only with high
magnification, as shades of
gray.
6- It occupies the more central region It is distributed as:
Distribution of the nucleus.
Heterochromatin
(Condensed chromatin)
It represents the coiled parts of
the chromosomal threads.
Its genes are inactive.
It does not direct protein
synthesis in the cell.
It is visible with LM as fine or
coarse basophilic chromatin
granules.
It is seen as electron-dense
granules (20-30 nm in
diameter).
1. Peripheral chromatin.
2. Nucleolar-associated chromatin.
3. Chromatin islands.
▪ Definition: One or more rounded
basophilic bodies present in interphase
nuclei.

▪ LM: Are prominent in cells actively

synthesizing protein.

▪ Site: central or eccentric in the nuclear sap.

▪ Staining: basophilic due to:

The surrounding nucleolar associated
chromatin & its ribonucleic acid (RNA)
content.
▪Appearance:
- It looks like a twisted and
folded cord.
- It disappears at the beginning
of the cell division and is
reformed at its end.

Functions:
1-Synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA).
2-rRNA is conjugated with protein and migrates through nuclear pores to
reach the cytoplasm as ribosome subunits.
EM:
Irregular spongy network surrounded by
aggregations of nucleolus associated chromatin.

It shows dark material and light material:

▪ Dark material composed of:
1. Fibrillar center
2. Pars fibrosa
3. Pars granulosa

▪ Light material: is present between the dark

material & formed of spaces filled with nuclear
sap.
- Def.:
It is a semifluid colloidal clear solution Nucleoplasm

in which chromatin and nucleoli are

suspended.
- LM:
It appears as clear or empty areas in the
nucleus.
- EM:
It appears electron-lucent.
- Vesicular nucleus
Nucleoplasm
- contains a large amount of nuclear sap.
▪ Condensed nucleus
- contains a small amount.
-
Function:
Acts as a medium through which RNA
moves towards nuclear pores.
▪ Pyknosis:
- Condensation of chromatin leading to shrinkage of the
nuclei (they appear as dense basophilic masses).

▪ Karyorrhexis:
- Fragmentation of nuclei.

▪ Karyolysis:
- Disappearance of nuclei due to complete dissolution of
DNA by increased activity of DNAase.
Identify the structures from 1 to 8:

1. Nuclear envelope
2. Ribosomes
3. Nuclear pores
4. Nucleolus
5. Chromatin
6. Nucleus
7. rER
8. Nucleoplasm
Euchromatin:
(a) Does NOT direct protein synthesis.
(b) Has nuclear pores.
(c) Represents the coiled parts of chromosomal
threads.
(d) Carries active genes.
(e) Appears as basophilic chromatin granules
Which of the followings are wear and tear
pigments?
(a) Lipofuscin
(b) Melanin
(c) Haemoglobin
(d) Bilirubin
(e) Haemosuderin
 Case discussion

• DR Ahmed is a pathologist. He received a postmortem

biopsy from the heart of 85 years old man and noticed a
brown coloration of the biopsy in fresh state?

• On the microscopic examination which type of

pigments did he find in the biopsy??
Mescher, A. (2018). Junqueira's basic histology: text and atlas. Fifteenth edn. New York: McGraw-Hill
education.
Chapter 2 Ribosomes and cytoskeleton
Chapter 3 Nucleus
Chapter 4 cilia and microvilli

Ross, M.H. and Pawlina, W. (2016). Histology : a text and atlas with correlated cell and molecular biology.
Seventh edn. Philadelphia: Wolters kluwer health. Chapter 2

Eroschenko, V.P. (2017). Atlas of histology with functional correlations. Thirteenth edn. Philadelphia: Wolters
kluwer. Chapter 2

www.histologyguide.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URUJD5NEXC8&t=35s
http://www.micron.uerj.br/atlas/atlasenglish/cell/index.htm
https://vimeo.com/58347006
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO-W8mvBa78
http://www.histologyguide.com/EM-atlas/01-introduction.html
Discussion & Feedback
Mescher, A. (2018). Junqueira's basic histology: text and atlas. Fifteenth edn. New York: McGraw-Hill
education.
Chapter 2 Ribosomes and cytoskeleton
Chapter 3 Nucleus
Chapter 4 cilia and microvilli

Ross, M.H. and Pawlina, W. (2016). Histology : a text and atlas with correlated cell and molecular biology.
Seventh edn. Philadelphia: Wolters kluwer health. Chapter 2

Eroschenko, V.P. (2017). Atlas of histology with functional correlations. Thirteenth edn. Philadelphia: Wolters
kluwer. Chapter 2

www.histologyguide.com

Prats, C., Graham, T. E., & Shearer, J. (2018). The dynamic life of the glycogen granule. The Journal of
biological chemistry, 293(19), 7089–7098.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URUJD5NEXC8&t=35s
http://www.micron.uerj.br/atlas/atlasenglish/cell/index.htm
https://vimeo.com/58347006
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO-W8mvBa78
http://www.histologyguide.com/EM-atlas/01-introduction.html