Histology Practice Questions

Q: The hematoxylin and eosin stained biopsy shown below is taken from which tissue?

Tonsil. ***Tonsil*** - The image displays prominent **lymphoid follicles** with **germinal centers** characteristic of tonsillar tissue, which is part of the **mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)**. - The surface is lined by **stratified squamous epithelium** (visible at the top), typical for tonsils that are exposed to the oral cavity. *Lymph Node* - While lymph nodes also contain lymphoid follicles with germinal centers, they are typically surrounded by a **fibrous capsule** and have distinct **cortex and medulla** regions, which are not clearly visible here. - Lymph nodes are covered by a thin connective tissue capsule, not stratified squamous epithelium. *Spleen* - The spleen is characterized by distinct **red pulp** (involved in blood filtration and erythrocyte destruction) and **white pulp** (containing lymphoid follicles). - The image lacks the characteristic architecture of red pulp, such as sinusoids filled with blood, and the overall organization differs from splenic tissue. *Thymus* - The thymus is characterized by a **cortex and medulla**, with developing T lymphocytes and Hassall's corpuscles in the medulla. - The absence of Hassall's corpuscles and the presence of a surface epithelium rule out the thymus.

Q: Which of the cells labelled below secrete hydrochloric acid?

A. ***A*** - The cells labeled 'A' are **parietal cells** (oxyntic cells), which are large, often triangular or oval cells with an eosinophilic cytoplasm due to abundant mitochondria. - Parietal cells are responsible for secreting **hydrochloric acid (HCl)** and intrinsic factor, crucial for vitamin B12 absorption. *B* - The cells labeled 'B' appear to be **mucous neck cells** or chief cells found deeper in the gastric glands. - Mucous neck cells secrete **acidic mucus**, while chief cells primarily produce **pepsinogen**. *C* - The cells labeled 'C' are primarily **chief cells**, which are basophilic due to their abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, associated with protein synthesis. - Chief cells secrete **pepsinogen** and gastric lipase, not hydrochloric acid. *D* - The structure labeled 'D' points to the connective tissue of the **lamina propria**, which contains blood vessels, nerves, and immune cells. - This area provides structural support and nutrition to the gastric glands but does not secrete digestive enzymes or acid.

Q: Which type of salivary glands is shown in the image?

Mucous. ***Mucous*** - The image predominantly displays **mucous acini**, characterized by their **pale-staining cytoplasm** and **flat, basally located nuclei**. - These cells produce **viscous, carbohydrate-rich mucus** for lubrication and protection. *Serous* - **Serous acini** typically show **darker, basophilic cytoplasm** due to abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum and **round, centrally located nuclei**. - They secrete **watery fluid rich in enzymes**, which is not the primary feature seen here. *Mixed* - **Mixed glands** contain both **serous and mucous acini**, often with **serous demilunes** capping the mucous acini. - While some ducts are visible, the overwhelming majority of secretory units are clearly mucous, not a balance of both or prominent serous demilunes. *Papillary* - **Papillary structures** are typically associated with ducts or cyst linings, forming finger-like projections. - This term does not describe a primary type of salivary gland secretory unit based on its cellular composition or secretory product.

Q: Which type of salivary gland is shown in the image?

Mixed. ***Mixed*** - The image clearly shows a combination of both **serous acini** (darker staining, more granular cells) and **mucous acini** (paler staining, foamy appearance, flattened peripheral nuclei). - Many **mucous acini are capped by serous demilunes**, which is a classic histological feature of mixed glands. *Serous* - Serous glands would solely consist of **serous acini**, characterized by darkly stained, granular cytoplasm and round, centrally located nuclei. - There would be no presence of the paler, foamy cells or **mucous acini** seen in the image. *Mucous* - Mucous glands would primarily contain **mucous acini**, which appear light-staining and foamy with flattened, basally located nuclei, lacking the prominent serous components. - The image contains significant numbers of cells with dense, eosinophilic cytoplasm typical of serous cells, not exclusively mucous cells. *Papillary* - "Papillary" refers to a **growth pattern or morphology** of epithelium, characterized by finger-like projections, and is not a classification for the secretory product of a salivary gland. - Salivary glands are classified based on their secretory units (serous, mucous, or mixed), not their overall structural arrangement.

Q: Which type of salivary glands is shown in the image?

Mixed. ***Mixed*** - The image displays both **serous acini** (darkly stained, uniform cells forming spherical structures) and **mucous tubules** (larger, lighter-stained cells often forming more tubular or crescent structures), characteristic of a mixed salivary gland. - The presence of **serous demilunes** capping some mucous tubules further confirms the mixed nature, although not clearly visible at this magnification, it's inferred by the blend of cell types. *Serous* - Serous glands would show almost exclusively **darkly stained, granular acini** producing watery secretions, like the parotid gland. - The image clearly contains lighter-stained, more translucent structures in addition to the dark acini, ruling out a purely serous gland. *Mucous* - Mucous glands would primarily consist of **pale-staining, vacuolated cells** forming tubules, responsible for viscous secretions. - While mucous components are present, significant numbers of darkly stained serous acini are also visible. *Papillary* - "Papillary" refers to a **growth pattern** characterized by finger-like projections, not a type of secretory cell or gland. - This term is typically used in the context of tumors or certain glandular epithelia but not for classifying conventional salivary gland types.

Q: Identify the structure:

Tonsil. ***Tonsil*** - The image displays multiple **crypts** lined by **stratified squamous epithelium** and filled with abundant **lymphoid follicles**, which are characteristic features of a tonsil. - Tonsils are secondary lymphoid organs located in the oropharynx, specialized for immune surveillance of ingested and inhaled antigens. *Lymph node* - Lymph nodes are typically encapsulated and show distinct cortical and medullary regions, lacking the deep crypts seen in the image. - They contain lymphoid follicles but are surrounded by a capsule and have afferent and efferent lymphatic vessels. *Spleen* - The spleen is characterized by red pulp (involved in filtering blood) and white pulp (containing lymphoid follicles around arterioles). - Its histological structure does not include epithelial-lined crypts. *Thymus* - The thymus is distinctively lobulated and features a cortex rich in thymocytes and a medulla containing **Hassall's corpuscles**. - It lacks the prominent lymphoid follicles and crypts observed in the image, as its primary role is T-cell maturation.

Q: Identify the tissue shown in the histopathological image:

Thymus. ***Thymus*** - The image shows a **thymic cortical area** characterized by a high density of lymphocytes (thymocytes) and Hassall's corpuscles [2]. - **Hassall's corpuscles**, visible as pink-staining, whorled epithelial structures are pathognomonic for the thymus [1]. *Lymph node* - Lymph nodes contain distinct cortical and medullary regions with **lymphoid follicles**, germinal centers, and sinuses filled with lymphocytes and macrophages. - They lack the characteristic **Hassall's corpuscles** seen in the image. *Tonsil* - Tonsils are characterized by crypts and germinal centers within lymphoid follicles, often covered by **stratified squamous epithelium**. - While they are lymphoid organs, they do not contain **Hassall's corpuscles**. *Spleen* - The spleen has a distinct **red pulp** (involved in blood filtration) and **white pulp** (lymphoid tissue around arterioles). - It does not contain Hassall's corpuscles and its architecture is markedly different from the image provided. **References:** [1] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Diseases of White Blood Cells, Lymph Nodes, Spleen, and Thymus, p. 634. [2] Cross SS. Underwood's Pathology: A Clinical Approach. 6th ed. Common Clinical Problems From Diseases Of The Urinary And Male Genital Tracts, pp. 572-574.

Q: Identify the tissue

Tonsil. ***Tonsil*** - The presence of **crypts** (invaginations of the surface epithelium) and a prominent **germinal center** within the lymphoid follicles are characteristic features of the tonsil [1]. - Tonsils are part of Waldeyer's ring and function in immune surveillance of the oral cavity and pharynx. *Lymph node* - Lymph nodes typically have a **capsule**, a distinct **cortex** and **medulla**, and afferent/efferent lymphatic vessels. - They lack the prominent crypts seen in tonsils. *Spleen* - The spleen is characterized by distinct **red pulp** (involved in filtering blood) and **white pulp** (lymphoid tissue). - It does not have crypts or a similar architectural organization to the tonsil. *Thymus* - The thymus is characterized by a **cortex** and **medulla**, with the presence of **Hassall's corpuscles** in the medulla [2]. - It is primarily involved in T-cell maturation and lacks the lymphoid follicles with germinal centers and crypts seen in tonsils. **References:** [1] Cross SS. Underwood's Pathology: A Clinical Approach. 6th ed. Common Clinical Problems From Diseases Of The Urinary And Male Genital Tracts, pp. 552-553. [2] Kumar V, Abbas AK, et al.. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 9th ed. Diseases of White Blood Cells, Lymph Nodes, Spleen, and Thymus, p. 634.

Q: The image shows presence of:

Smooth muscle. ***Smooth muscle*** - The image displays elongated, spindle-shaped cells with a single, centrally located nucleus, characteristic features of **smooth muscle** fibers. - The absence of striations (bands) further confirms it is smooth muscle, which is involved in **involuntary movements** of internal organs. *Skeletal muscle* - **Skeletal muscle** fibers are typically long, cylindrical, and multinucleated, with nuclei located peripherally. - They exhibit prominent **striations** due to the organized arrangement of contractile proteins, which are not visible here. *Cardiac muscle* - **Cardiac muscle** cells are branched, possess one or two central nuclei, and exhibit striations, similar to skeletal muscle. - A key differentiating feature is the presence of **intercalated discs**, which are not seen in this image. *Compact bone* - **Compact bone** would show a highly organized structure of **osteons** (Haversian systems) with concentric lamellae and osteocytes within lacunae. - The image clearly displays cellular fibers, not the rigid, calcified matrix of bone.

Q: Name the structure marked as $X$ which anchors the periosteum to circumferential lamellae in bone:

Sharpey's fibers. ***Sharpey's fibers*** - **Sharpey's fibers** are collagen fibers from the periosteum that penetrate and anchor into the outer circumferential and interstitial lamellae of compact bone, as indicated by 'X' in the image. - They provide strong attachment for the periosteum to the bone matrix, particularly at tendon and ligament insertion sites, contributing to bone integrity and stability. *Cambium fibers* - The **cambium layer** is the inner cellular layer of the periosteum, containing **osteoprogenitor cells** for bone growth and repair. - It does not refer to specific fibers anchoring the periosteum to the bone matrix but rather to the cellular component involved in bone formation. *Purkinje fibers* - **Purkinje fibers** are specialized cardiac muscle cells located in the subendocardial layer of the ventricles, responsible for rapid conduction of electrical impulses in the heart. - They are unrelated to bone structure or the interaction between the periosteum and bone. *Undulin fibers* - **Undulin** is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein found in various connective tissues, including bone and cartilage, but it is not a primary anchoring fiber for the periosteum. - The term "undulin fibers" is not a standard anatomical term for the structures anchoring the periosteum to bone.

Question 1

The hematoxylin and eosin stained biopsy shown below is taken from which tissue?

Accepted Answer

Tonsil

Answer

Lymph Node

Answer

Spleen

Answer

Thymus

Question 2

Which of the cells labelled below secrete hydrochloric acid?

Accepted Answer

A

Answer

B

Answer

C

Answer

D

Question 3

Which type of salivary glands is shown in the image?

Accepted Answer

Mucous

Answer

Serous

Answer

Mixed

Answer

Papillary

Question 4

Which type of salivary gland is shown in the image?

Accepted Answer

Mixed

Answer

Serous

Answer

Mucous

Answer

Papillary

Question 5

Which type of salivary glands is shown in the image?

Accepted Answer

Mixed

Answer

Serous

Answer

Mucous

Answer

Papillary

Question 6

Identify the structure:

Accepted Answer

Tonsil

Answer

Lymph node

Answer

Spleen

Answer

Thymus

Question 7

Identify the tissue shown in the histopathological image:

Accepted Answer

Thymus

Answer

Lymph node

Answer

Tonsil

Answer

Spleen

Question 8

Identify the tissue

Accepted Answer

Tonsil

Answer

Lymph node

Answer

Spleen

Answer

Thymus

Question 9

The image shows presence of:

Accepted Answer

Smooth muscle

Answer

Skeletal muscle

Answer

Cardiac muscle

Answer

Compact bone

Question 10

Name the structure marked as $X$ which anchors the periosteum to circumferential lamellae in bone:

Accepted Answer

Sharpey's fibers

Answer

Cambium fibers

Answer

Purkinje fibers

Answer

Undulin fibers

Histology — MCQs

Histology — MCQs

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