HOW TO

HOW TO
SURVIVE
SURVIVE
Histology
Image taken from: http://plaza.min.a!."p/#$e%&hist/gloms."pg
'
S(S)
*U+,I-'TIO.
S*RI.)
/001
How to Survive Guide Structure: Histology /
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Hello e2eryone3
Wel!ome to histology4 the lan5 of prple an5 %le. These are the !olors yo6ll %e looking at
throgh a mi!ros!ope for the ne7t month4 so $e hope yo like them. This !lass is 8ite fast&
pa!e54 %t st5ying for it is pretty straightfor$ar5. Here6s $hat this short sr2i2al gi5e !ontains.
Toic !"ges
Intro5!tion to Histology 9
Ho$ to St5y& It6s *retty Straightfo$ar5 :&;
,a%& It6s (ifferent from 'natomy ;
E7ams3 <&=
>ini%oar53 =
Te7t%ooks 1
Ho$ to Sr2i2e: Str!tre ? Histology
Samel 'nan5an @;th yearA
Shamyla Barrkh @:th yearA
'yanna ,e$is @:th yearA
-harlie , @:th yearA
*rathysha Cetr @:th yearA
Dathy Ehang @:th yearA
#NT$O%&CT#ON TO H#STOLOG'
How to Survive Guide Structure: Histology 9
This sr2i2al gi5e is going to %e a lot shorter than pre2ios gi5es4 %e!ase this !lass is
8ite straightfor$ar5. It6s fast&pa!e54 re8ires a goo5 amont of st5ying4 %t the tests are pretty
straightfor$ar54 an5 the mini%oar5 is pretty fair as $ell. This is almost like anatomy on a m!h
smaller s!ale. Co6re going to %e looking at little prple an5 %le !ells $ith little 5ots insi5e
them4 5ifferent types of epithelial !ells all o2er yor %o5y6s srfa!e4 et!. 't the time4 it may not
seem important4 %t this stff has alrea5y sho$n p again in general pathology4 so try to learn as
m!h of it as possi%le. It6s not as 5raining as anatomy4 %t re8ires that yo keep p $ith the
material4 $hi!h is almost a !hapter a 5ay.
'nother %enefit is that (r. Dierszen%am6s te7t%ook !rams a lot of stff into those nearly
=00 pages. Co6ll fin5 stff from %io!hemistry4 physiology4 immnology4 pathology4 an5 e2en
neros!ien!e4 an5 I62e looke5 %a!k at the %ook 5ring those other !lasses. The main 5ra$%a!k is
that4 sin!e the %ook !o2ers these areas in !onsi5era%le 5etail4 it !an %e a lot to get throgh an5
learn $hen rea5ing it. I thoght the %ook $asn6t the greatest 5ring histology4 %t in hin5sight4
it6s a really goo5 %ook. *lease try an5 learn as m!h as possi%le in this !lass4 it6ll help ot later
on.
HO( TO ST&%' #T)S !$ETT' ST$A#GHTFO(A$%
How to Survive Guide Structure: Histology :
Advice *ro+ Ay",," Lewis- S."+yl" F"rru/.- ",d !r"t.yus." 'eturu:
Histology is one of those !orses $here the det"ils "re 0ust "s i+ort",t "s t.e
co,cets. Use the te7t%ook as yor main st5y tool for the !lass an5 for n5erstan5ing the
%a!kgron5 for la%. When yo st5y for this !orse make sre yo pay close "tte,tio, to all
5etails4 %e!ase that is $hat yo $ill %e teste5 on. Ho$e2er4 this may %e 5iffi!lt to 5o %e!ase
is there is "st so m!h 5etail in e2ery topi!.
So to help $ith this I sggest that after yo ha2e st5ie5 the te7t%ook4 yo sit 5o$n an5
make !harts for yorself4 from memory4 that !ompare an5 !ontrast similar items that yo rea5
a%ot. Bor e7ample the %loo5 has many 5ifferent types of !ells that share !ertain !hara!teristi!s
like ha2ing a spe!ifi! !olor4 size4 n!lear shape et!. 'll of these are !hara!teristi!s yo nee5 to
kno$ for e2ery !ell4 so !reating these !harts shol5 make it easier to see $here these similar
%loo5 !ells 5iffer. 'fter$ar5s4 %e sre to !he!k yor !hart against the te7t%ook to make sre that
e2erything is !orre!t. Co may also $ant to 5ra$ !ertain str!tres from memory an5 !he!k it
against an a!tal sli5e4 if yo are ha2ing tro%le i5entifying str!tres. This is parti!larly
helpfl %e!ase .istology is suc. " visu"l course an5 it6s important that yo !an !reate in yor
min5 a 2ery strong mental image.
+efore !lass4 it helps a lot if yo spen5 some time skimming the !hapter smmaries for
the topi!s that $ill %e !o2ere5 for that 5ay. This $ay $hen yo get into !lass yo kno$ $hat to
e7pe!t from the le!trer. Then $hen yo rea5 the te7t%ook yo $ill %e %etter a%le to i5entify
$hat $ill %e stresse5 on the e7ams.
Advice *ro+ S"+uel A,",d",:
There6s really not m!h to say on ho$ to st5y for this !lass. The main a52i!e is to re"d
t.e te1t2oo/. Other sor!es4 like +RS4 !an %e of help in re2ie$ing4 %t the %ook is seriosly all
yo nee5 to pass this !lass. Dno$ the %ook $ell4 an5 the e7ams an5 mini%oar5 shol5 %e fine.
Bor the e7ams4 $hi!h $ill %e 5is!sse5 shortly4 there are mi!ros!ope pi!tres there4 %t if yo
look at the atlas an5 sli5es 5ring la%4 an5 look at the histologi! images in the %ook4 it shol5 %e
fine.
The ictures are great in the te7t%ook4 so for re2ie$4 yo !an "st look throgh those4 as
they6re !ho!k fll of information themsel2es4 an5 really are $ell illstrate5. (on6t make the
mistake I 5i5 %y taking histo lightly. The fast pa!e is something yo really nee5 to keep p $ith4
an5 yo 5on6t $ant to rin yor smmer st5ying for this again. On!e again4 5efinitely re"d t.e
te1t2oo/ c"re*ully4 an5 that6s a%ot it3
Advice *ro+ 3"t.y 4.",g:
The tests in!l5e5 a fe$ ele!tron mi!rograph 8estions on the first e7am4 an5 sin!e
people 5i5n6t take them that seriosly4 it %ore more an5 more $eight in the e7ams4 taking p half
the pra!ti!al portion on the last / e7ams. It6s really straightfor$ar54 an5 it gets yo easy points4
so make sre to st5y them $ell. The main thing for histo is to keep p $ith the $ork an5 to
st5y e2ery 5ay. Ot of anatomy4 histo an5 nero4 thogh anatomy is the most physi!ally
5raining4 histo has the fastest pa!e4 an5 to not keep p !an pt yo in a shaky position %efore yo
e2en kno$ it4 so try to stay on top of yor $ork from the 2ery first 5ay.
How to Survive Guide Structure: Histology ;
LAB #T)S %#FFE$ENT F$O5 ANATO5'
Advice *ro+ S"+uel A,",d",:
Histology la% is 8ite 5ifferent from anatomy la%. In anatomy4 the %o5y $as yor 9&(
te7t%ook4 an5 yo really nee5e5 to learn a lot from la%4 or at least that6s ho$ I fon5 it. In
histology4 the sli5es spplement yor rea5ing an5 stff4 %t yo !an learn "st as $ell from the
atlas4 te7t%ook4 an5 other sor!es. ,a% is really $hat yo %ring to it. There are fa!lty T's4
in!l5ing (r. )resik4 (r. Tres4 (r. C4 an5 another (r. C. They are really helpfl4 %t la% is
really $hat yo make of it. Bor the first t$o tests4 I really 5i5n6t pay attention in la%4 %t I 5i5
pay attention for the thir5 test4 an5 it $as 8ite helpfl. In yor l"2 .",d2oo/4 there6ll %e a
5is!ssion of $hat6s on the sli5es4 in!l5ing $hat yo shol5 look for. Try to fin5 all the stff
liste5 there4 an5 if yo ha2e tro%le4 ask the T's. The stff yo ha2e to i5entify !an !ome p as
8estions on the pra!ti!al portion of the e7am4 %t sally they are se!on5ary 8estions4 more on
that in a %it.
In la%4 yo ha2e yor o$n mi!ros!ope4 %t yo ha2e to share a sli5e %o7 $ith a la%
partner. Co6re split p into three grops %ase5 on last name4 %t yo !an !hoose yor o$n la%
partner. The atlas $e se5 last year $as the one %y )artner an5 Hiatt4 %t it appears yo ha2e
another re!ommen5e5 atlas. Whi!h e2er one $orks %est for yo4 se that4 an5 try to fin5 all the
stff yo nee5 to. +t remem%er that most of the important4 high&yiel5 type of i5entifi!ation stff
$ol5 %e in the te7t%ook4 so again4 that6s yor +"i, source o* i,*or+"tio, *or t.is cl"ss.
Advice *ro+ Ay",," Lewis- S."+yl" F"rru/.- ",d !r"t.yus." 'eturu:
Bor the la% portion of the e7am make sre yo pay attention in la%. *reparation for la% is
essential for getting the most ot of la% $hen yo are there. +efore yo get into la% take the time
to look at pi!tres rele2ant to the material to %e !o2ere5 that 5ay. The te7t%ook has a %n!h of
really great ones $ith really goo5 5es!riptions too. 'nother great sor!e of pi!tres $ith
5es!riptions is the Uni2ersity of Io$a $e%site @yo6ll get the a!tal $e% a55ress in yor la%
manalA. Whi!he2er yo se make sre yo are !onsistent a%ot prepping %efore la%. E2erything
$ill make more sense if yo 5o.
On!e in la% yo an5 yor partner shol5 rea5 throgh the la% manal an5 i5entify all of
the str!tres the la% manal highlights on the sli5es. Use yor te7t%ook as a referen!e 5ring la%
to see $hat the str!tres shol5 look like n5er the mi!ros!ope. If yo are ha2ing tro%le
fin5ing a parti!lar str!tre ask a T' for help. Binally4 make sre yo pay attention $hen the
T'6s go o2er the ele!tromi!rographs @they are pi!tres of highly magnifie5 str!tresA in !lass.
The T'6s $ill highlight $hat str!tres are important to kno$ for the test.
E6A5S7
How to Survive Guide Structure: Histology <
The histology e7ams are fair an5 not so %a5 if yo really rea5 the !hapters !areflly an5
pay attention. This is something I learne5 more or less the har5 $ay4 as I 5i5n6t st5y as har5 as I
shol562e the first test or t$o4 an5 if yo 5on6t kno$ the material4 the tests !an %e 2ery
!hallenging. 'n5 $hy is thatF +e!ase the 8estions are a sort of dou2le w."++y4 in that yo
nee5 to kno$ mltiple fa!ts "st to ans$er one 8estion. Bor e7ample4 yo !ol5 %e aske5
something like this&
TE6TBOO3S
.o$4 yo may see this 8estion4 an5 kno$ that a netrophil is the most a%n5ant type of
$hite %loo5 !ell. Ho$e2er4 nless yo st5ie5 the types of staining4 yo may not re!all $hat
!olor they stain as4 an5 this 8estion no$ %e!omes a gessing game. With histo4 it6s almost an
all&or&none type of learning. Co ha2e to /,ow "l+ost "ll t.e +"teri"l i, .is 2oo/4 or yo !an
get tri!ke5 on 8estions like these4 $hi!h are kin5 of like t$o 8estions @asking yo $hat
netrophils are4 an5 asking yo ho$ they stainA !om%ine5 in one. +y the $ay4 the ans$er a%o2e
shol5 %e -4 %t yo !an 5o%le !he!k that as yo st5y .
There6s also a pra!ti!al portion to the e7am. Ho$e2er4 yo $on6t %e a!tally looking into
mi!ros!opes for this part. Instea54 yo get a ni!e4 high&8ality !olor se!tion $ith pi!tres of
histologi!al se!tions4 an5 there6ll %e a 8estion or fe$ for ea!h pi!tre. Usally4 if I remem%er
right4 these 8estions $ere se!on5ary. So4 yo may ha2e a pi!tre of a sar!omere4 $ith a
8estion like this&
This 8estion may not %e the %est e7ample4 %t it illstrates the %asi! point that4 althogh
yo may kno$ that the highlighte5 region is the ' %an54 yo ha2e to kno$ more a%ot it in or5er
Whi!h is tre of netrophilsF
a. They are a type of $hite %loo5 !ell @W+-A an5 stain prple on HGE preparations.
%. They are a type of re5 %loo5 !ell @R+-A an5 stain pink on HGE preparations.
!. They are a type of W+- an5 stain pink on HGE preparations.
5. They are a type of R+- an5 stain prple on HGE preparations.
e. They are the least a%n5ant type of W+- an5 stain %le on HGE preparations.
The highlighte5 str!tre&
a. -onsists of thin filaments only.
%. -onsists of %oth thi!k an5 thin filaments.
!. -onsists of thi!k filaments only.
5. -ontains titin.
e. -ontains -apE.
How to Survive Guide Structure: Histology =
to ans$er the 8estion. Co !an !ram the atlas or te7t%ook pi!tres %eforehan5 an5 simply
remem%er that the ' %an5 is in the mi55le of a sar!omere4 %t taking time to rea5 that the ' %an5
is $here ms!le !ontra!tion o!!rs %e!ase of the intera!tion of light an5 hea2y filaments $ill
get yo to the right ans$er4 $hi!h shol5 %e +. So4 "st memorizing little prple 5ots or %le
lines on a sli5e $on6t al$ays help yo $ith these pra!ti!al 8estions.
The ele!tron mi!rographs in the te7t%ook HUltrastr!treI are very goo5 to re2ie$ for the
test. Jst looking at the rele2ant ele!tronmi!rographs an5 5es!riptions the 5ay %efore the test
shol5 %e enogh to help to i5entify those str!tres on the e7am. This is an e7pensi2e %ook
thogh4 a%ot KL04 so yo pro%a%ly $ol5 $ant to share a !opy $ith a frien5 or a grop of
people.
The %asi! thing a%ot these histo e7ams is that they6re tri!ky if yo 5on6t kno$ yor
material flly4 %t if yo 5o4 they6re fairly straightfor$ar5. So4 on!e again4 an5 I !an6t reiterate
this enogh4 please re"d t.e 2oo/ very well4 it6ll help on %oth the $ritten an5 pra!ti!al portions4
an5 make yor life a lot easier !ome mini%oar5 time.
5#N#BOA$%7
Advice *ro+ C."rlie Lu:
This is the only !lass yo6ll take this semester that yo 5on6t nee5 to 5o a55itional
st5ying for the mini%oar5. (r. Dierzen%am6s tests $ill %e m!h har5er than the mini%oar5
8estions. Co6ll only nee5 to $orry a%ot re2ie$ing4 $hi!h !an simply %e 5one the M $eek
%et$een the !lass final an5 the mini%oar5. One thing yo shol5n6t forget to fo!s on for the
mini%oar5 are the la% 8estions. I remem%er this %eing the har5est part simply %e!ase I !ol5n6t
i5entify the pi!tres. *retest has goo5 la% 8estions G I6m sre yo !an fin5 a55itional sor!es
online.
Advice *ro+ S"+uel A,",d",:
Se"/i,g o* t.e +i,i2o"rd4 this may 2ery $ell %e the easiest mini%oar5 yo6ll take for a
$hile. It 5oes in!l5e !ell %iology4 $hi!h yo last sa$ in >ole!les to -ells4 %t the te7t%ook
!o2ers all the rele2ant !ell %iology4 an5 if yo feel the nee5 to re2ie$ it4 +RS has it in there as
$ell. >ost re2ie$ %ooks shol5 ha2e a goo5 !ell %iology se!tion as $ell4 sin!e me5i!al !ell
%iology is sally taght $ith histo4 I think. Bor the mini%oar54 rea5ing the te7t%ook an5
mastering the material 5ring the !lass shol5 %e enogh to pass !omforta%ly. +efore the
mini%oar54 I65 re!ommen5 looking at the pi!tres in ea!h !hapter again4 an5 may%e rea5 +RS
for a 8i!k re2ie$4 an5 5o those 8estions4 in!l5ing the !omprehensi2e e7am at the en5. +t
this really shol5n6t %e the mini%oar5 to $orry a%ot. (on6t take it too lightly4 %t 5on6t stress
ot too m!h o2er it either. St5y $ell in !lass4 an5 this shol5 %e fine.
TE6TBOO3S
How to Survive Guide Structure: Histology 1
Here are some of the histology %ooks a2aila%le. There6s another atlas re!ommen5e5 %y
the 5epartment4 so yo shol5 look into that an5 see if it $orks for yo. +t the te7t%ook is the
nm%er one sor!e for passing histo an5 the mini%oar54 it6s like gol53
Te1t2oo/ N"+e Editio, %escritio, #SBN
Histology and Cell Biology: An
Introduction to Pathology
/n5 The 5A#N SO&$CE for this !lass4
an5 a goo5 referen!e for ftre
!lasses in Sophie3
09/90:;/=1
BRS Cell Biology and Histology ;
th
' goo5 re2ie$ %efore the
mini%oar54 or to %rsh p on !ell
%iology. 'lso goo5 for 8estions
%efore the mini%oar54 or e2en !lass
e7ams.
0=1M=1;==:
Cell & Tissue Ultrastructure /n5 Re8ire5 te7t%ook $ith sefl
pi!tres of ele!tron mi!ros!opy.
0=M<==099:
Color Atlas of Histology :th The atlas $e se5 last year. *retty
goo5 pi!tres4 5efinitely han5y to
se in la%.
0=1M=L1/10
PreTest Anatomy, Histology and Cell
Biology
/n5 This *reTest e5ition has anatomy
an5 histology in one %ook. I 5i5n6t
se it4 %t *reTest is sally gol5
for the mini%oar5s4 so $orth a look.
00=M:9=:L;
)oo5 l!k $ith e2erything an5 please 5on6t hesitate to ask for help if yo nee5 it. This !orse
goes %y e7tremely 8i!kly so if yo fin5 yorself strggling after the first e7am yo nee5 to get
help imme5iately4 either from a T' @they are all really helpflA4 (r Dirszen%am4 or a fello$
!lassmate $ho6s 5oing $ell an5 $illing to help. En"oy3