Histology Stanley Shostak

BioSc 1450 Spring 99
 
 

Questions for First Hour Exam: The General Histology of Tissues

I would appreciate your using a dark pen rather than a pencil and writing on every other line especially if you have small handwriting. Please leave wide margins if you would like me to comment on what you have written, otherwise I’ll just write a comment at the end of your blue book.

1) Is there such a thing as a pure tissue? Which, if any of the tissues, can be defined entirely in terms of itself, without regard to its association with, connection to, or derivation from any other tissue? Defend your answers with specific cases of tissue independence or dependence.

2) What is the relationship between structures seen in histological sections at the light microscopic level and those seen in thin sections at the electron microscopic level, and how are these cellular structures related to their functions? Be sure to give specific examples.

3). What can you learn from artifacts? Everything you see in a histological preparation is to some degree an artifact, but some artifacts are more instructive than others. Describe some specific artifacts and what you have learned about tissue by interpreting them.

4) Is seeing believing? Describe something you actually saw through the microscope for each of the five tissues (including blood) and illustrate how these images fit in with what you have learned about the tissues in other courses. Be specific, but your answer may reflect a consilience or a disjunction of the image and the information.

5) Answer either one of the following:

How similar are tissues really? Show how the most different features of tissues are really variations on common themes.

How different are tissues really? Show how the most similar features of tissues are really produced through entirely different pathways.

 6) Why have the words used to describe tissues become so replete with synonyms? Describe any of the tissues in detail, and show how some terms used in your description are redundant, unnecessary and even confusing. Tell me and explain what words you could leave out of your description of tissues without sacrificing clarity. These are the question for your first hour exam. You may answer one, two or three depending on your taste and preparation. You can take the entire period or leave whenever you are finished, but I imagine that an adequate answer or answers will occupy up to ten well-written pages, depending on penmanship and spacing.

Grades will be based on accuracy (correct reporting without major errors in content), completeness (inclusion of everything necessary both to make your argument and to defeat contrary arguments), and concreteness (direct and definitive examples). Spelling will not count (as long as I can figure out what you’re trying to write), but correct spelling and attention to grammar (especially agreement) always improve clarity, and that’s what I require in evaluating your answer(s).

Advise: Think histologically!

Histology Stanley Shostak

BioSc 1450 Spring 99

 

Second Hour Exam: Special Histology (part I)

The exam consists of two parts, questions 1—3 and 4—6. You may write essays on one or two (and no more than two) of the topics, but one of your answers must be from the first part. Once
again, no notes whatsoever are permitted during the exam. Please use a dark pen rather than a pencil, and write on every other line especially if you have small handwriting. Leave wide margins if
you would like me to comment on what you have written, otherwise I’ll just write a comment at the end of your blue book.

     1.The premise of histology is not that organs are made of tissues but that organs are made by tissues. Choose any organ or organ system you like and describe how it is made by the tissues
       composing it.
     2.Macrophages are found virtually everywhere. Describe the macrophages in three tissues (organs or organ systems), what they do there and where they came from.
     3.Compare and contrast the structure and functions of mucosal associated lymphatic tissues (MALT) with lymph nodes and the spleen.

       The following three questions were submitted by one of your classmates. They represent health related problems.

       4. Describe the process of bone formation and bone, remodeling and repair. Explain what would be the result if there were an imbalance between bone resorbtion and bone formation.

       5. Lupus Erythematosis is a skin disorder. This disease represents an autoimmune disorder due to B-cell hyperactivity against nuclear antigens. Explain what autoimmune disorder means
       and how B-cells may get hyperactivated?

       6. A person is diagnosed with asthma. In addition to explaining different parts of the respiratory system, explain what part of his/her respiratory system may play a central role in this
       disease.

 

You can take the entire period or leave whenever you are finished, but I imagine that an adequate answer or answers will occupy up to ten well-written pages, depending on penmanship and spacing.

Grades will be based on accuracy (correct reporting without major errors in content), completeness (inclusion of everything necessary both to make your argument and to defeat contrary
arguments), and concreteness (direct and definitive examples). Illustrations are encouraged. Spelling will not count (as long as I can figure out what you’re trying to write), but correct spelling and
attention to grammar (especially agreement) always improve clarity, and that’s what I require in evaluating your answer(s).

Advise: Think histologically!

Histology                                                                                                     Stanley Shostak
BioSc 1450                                                                                                    Spring 99
 
 

Third Hour Exam: Special Histology (part II)

The exam consists of two parts, questions 1—3 and 4—6. You may write an answer to one or two (but no more than two) questions, but one answer must be from the first part. You can take
the entire two hours or leave whenever you are finished, but I imagine that an adequate answer or answers will occupy up to twelve well-written pages, depending on penmanship and spacing.

Think histologically and (1) Spend some time organizing your answer (make an outline) before writing it; (2) illustrate your answer with drawings resembling material you have seen on slides.

Once again, no notes whatsoever are permitted during the exam. Please use a dark pen rather than a pencil, and write on every other line especially if you have small handwriting. This time I will not
make comments on the margins, since I am not obliged any longer to help you improve your grade. Of course, I will be available to discuss your answers with you, and, upon your request, I will
return your paper to you.

Grades will be based on accuracy (correct reporting without major errors in content), completeness (inclusion of everything necessary both to make your argument and to defeat contrary
arguments), and concreteness (direct and definitive examples). Illustrations are encouraged. Spelling will not count (as long as I can figure out what you’re trying to write), but correct spelling and
attention to grammar (especially agreement) always improve clarity, and that’s what I require in evaluating your answer(s).

Part I: I’m thinking primarily about words. You may answer the questions with reference to the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, the urinary system, endocrine glands or the
reproductive systems. In any case, please answer the question with specific histological details.

1) The question is: What relationships do you find between the terms used in general histology and those used in special histology?

Prolegomena: In the first part of the course, you studied general histology, the histology of tissues, specifically, epithelia, connective tissue, blood, muscle, and nerve. This was followed by special
histology which was supposed to build the histology of organs and organ systems on a foundation of general histology. Throughout the second portion of the course, however, you studied
parenchyma and stroma, cortex and medulla, tunicae, lamina, mucosae, the submucosa, muscularis, adventitia, serosa, etc. Whatever happened to tissues?

2) The question is: What possible advantage do you find in using eponyms? (Be specific!)

Prolegomena: Throughout the term, eponyms have dotted the landscape of cells, tissues, and organs. I have opposed the use of eponyms, preferring approved, anatomically and functionally
meaningful terms. My primary reason has been that the currently approved nomenclature has the virtue of youth: It is capable of growth and change as knowledge accumulates. Many students,
however, prefer eponyms (witness answers on practical exams).

3) Now that you’ve had histology, how do you interpret the phrase ‘Think histologically’?
 
 

Part II: I’m thinking about complexity in structure, function and control. Your answer may refer to the gastrointestinal tract, liver, pancreas, the urinary system, endocrine glands or the
reproductive systems, but should be histologically precise, specific and detailed (get my drift?).

1) Organs sometimes seem to operate with only one function while actually performing several functions. For example, one ordinarily thinks about bone as supporting tissue, but it is also involved
in the regulation of calcium ion concentration in blood. Please illustrate multiple functions as they occur in other organs (e.g., kidney, liver, or ovary).

2) The operation of organs and organ systems sometimes seems independent while actually requiring the participation of other organ or organ systems. In particular, the circulatory system may
provide portal shunts, linking inter-dependent organs. Please illustrate the role of portal circulation in inter-dependence in the hypophysis, liver, or urinary system (stretching the tem ‘portal’
slightly).

3) The control of any one function is frequently spread over several organs or organ systems. For example, the regulation of calcium ion concentration in blood operates through the interaction of
bone, endocrine glands, and blood cells. Please illustrate the integration of controls along the kidney/liver/lung/adrenal, the kidney/hypothalamus/hypophysis, the ovary/placenta, or
hypothalamus/testis axes, or among endocrine organs systemically regulated by hormones, nerves or neuroendocrine activity.