WARNING: ALL THE MATERIALS (i.e.

, TEXT DOCUMENTS, DIGITAL

SLIDES, PHOTOMICROGRAPHS, PICTURES, VIDEOS, ETC.) THAT YOU
WILL USE IN THIS LABORATORY COURSE IN HISTOLOGY ARE
COPYRIGHTED. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DOWNLOAD, UPLOAD,
SHARE, COPY, OR EDIT ANY PART OF ANY MATERIAL, UNLESS
SPECIFICALLY GIVEN PERMISSION TO DO SO. YOU ARE HOWEVER
ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MATERIALS AS THEY
APPEAR ON THE MONITOR, BUT ONLY FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE. YOU
CANNOT POST THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN ANY SITE ON THE INTERNET,
SEND THEM TO ANYONE BY E-MAIL OR ANY ELECTRONIC MEANS, OR
MASS PRODUCE THEM.
THIS LABORATORY IS MONITORED BY A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM THAT CAN DETECT VIOLATORS OF THE ABOVE RULE.
VIOLATORS WILL BE SUBJECTED TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION.

MODULE 11: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

The Respiratory System is the organ system that is responsible for external
respiration—the exchange of gases that occurs in the lungs between inhaled air and blood.
The organs that comprise the system consist of the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea,
main bronchi and the lungs. The first five organs serve as passageways for air on its way to and
from the lungs, but they have other functions. For example, the nose contain the sense organ for
smell, the larynx is mainly responsible for speech, etc.

COMPETENCIES

At the end of the module on the Respiratory System, given an LM histologic section or
electron micrograph, the student can:

1. Name the organ from where the section was taken.

2. Distinguish between olfactory and respiratory epithelium in sections of the nose.
3. Point out the different cell types that comprise olfactory and respiratory
epithelia.
4. Delineate the histologic layers of the different parts of the nose.
5. Identify the cells and distinctive structural features in the various histologic
layers of the nose.
 6. Delimit the histologic layers of the epiglottis.
7. Point out the cells and distinctive structural features of the different layers of the
epiglottis.
8. Distinguish the true from the false vocal cord in the larynx.
9. Point to the laryngeal ventricle.
10. Demarcate the histologic layers that comprise the larynx at the level of the vocal
cords.
11. Point out the cells and distinctive structural features of the different histologic
layers of the larynx.
12. Identify the skeletal muscle cells that comprise the vocalis muscle in the larynx.
13. Delimit the histologic layers of the trachea.
14. Point out the cells and distinctive structural features of the different histologic
layers of the trachea.
15. In sections of the lung, locate the visceral pleura and point out the elements that
comprise the pleura.
16. Pinpoint the different segments of the bronchial tree in sections of the lung.
17. Distinguish among the branches/tributaries of the pulmonary artery, pulmonary
vein and bronchial artery in sections of the lung.
18. In sections of the lung, locate the interalveolar septa.
19. Identify the cells and other components that make up the interalveolar septa
20. Find pulmonary alveolar macrophages in the alveoli in lung sections.
21. Identify the components of the blood-air barrier in LM sections and electron
micrographs.

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE

Esteban and Gonzales’ Textbook of Histology, Fifth Edition

Chapter XII – Respiratory System, pages 172-186

LABORATORY SESSION ON THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

This laboratory session has two parts. The first part of the session will be devoted to the
study of LM digital slides while during the second part you will go to the INTERNET to
study electron micrographs.

PART 1: STUDY OF THE ORGANS COMPRISING THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM IN

LM DIGITAL SLIDES

In this part of the session, you will open a number of digital slides, each of which contains a
section of an organ that belongs to the Respiratory System. Then, you will study the slides
one after the other using this manual as guide. But even with this manual, you will most
likely still find it necessary to consult your textbook and atlas.
 SLIDE SESSION

 Split the monitor and start/run Imagescope as you did during the previous lab
sessions.
 Open the digital slides listed below. The slides are in the folder labeled “Module 11.
Respiratory System” that is within the folder labeled “HISTOLOGY SLIDES,” which is
on your desktop.
 Epiglottis
 Larynx, vocal cord
 Lung 1
 Lung 2
 Lung 3
 Lung-Fetus
 Nasal septum
 Nose, olfactory epithelium
 Trachea

NOSE
In studying the nose, you will use the following slides, which are already on the
filmstrip:

 Nasal septum
 Nose, olfactory epithelium

 On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled “Nasal septum.” Despite its label, the slide
contains a section not only of the nasal septum but of the whole inferior three-fourths
of the nasal cavity.
o Under low magnification, delineate the following structures and regions in the
section:
 Nasal septum that divides the nose into left and right halves.
 Nasal cavities, left and right, which refer to the spaces that are immediately
lateral to the nasal septum.
 The nasal turbinates or conchae, which are three shelf-like structures that
hang on the lateral wall of each nasal cavity.
 The hard palate that forms the lowermost border of the section.
o Shift to higher magnification, and examine the nasal septum.
 Note that its framework consists of cartilage (what type?) superiorly and
bone and cartilage inferiorly.
 Observe that the nasal septum is lined on its luminal surfaces with ciliated
pseudostratified epithelium which is otherwise called respiratory
epithelium. There are six (6) cell types that comprise respiratory
epithelium, but the only ones that you can identify in this section with some
degree of certainty are the goblet cells, ciliated columnar cells and basal
 cells. What are the other cell types? Respiratory epithelium also exhibits a
basement membrane, but this structure is thin and poorly defined in the nasal
mucosa.
 Delineate the lamina propria under the epithelium. Notice that it is made
up of loose connective tissue where mucous and serous glands, and blood
vessels are embedded. Also note the numerous lymphocytes that comprise
part of the MALT in the nasal cavity.
o Still at high magnification, study the nasal turbinates.
 Find the bony spicules that form part of the framework of the turbinates.
Note that in between some of the spicules is adipose tissue, which is really
yellow marrow.
 Note that the turbinates, like the nasal septum, are lined on their luminal
surfaces by respiratory epithelium.
 Observe that the lamina propria that underlies the epithelium also contains
serous and mucous glands. In addition, the lamina propria is richly supplied
with blood vessels and MALT. The veins form extensive venous plexuses
that serve to warm inhaled air. In this section, you will find large but thin-
walled veins in the turbinates, especially in the inferior turbinate.
o Now, examine, the lateral walls of the nasal cavities also at high magnification. Note
that their framework also consists of bone and that they are also lined by
respiratory epithelium and that their mucosa is richly supplied with mucous and
serous glands, blood vessels and MALT.
o Note the large cavity or space on the rightmost inferior part of the slide. This space
is the lumen of a paranasal sinus. Under high magnification, observe that the space
is also lined by respiratory epithelium underneath which is lamina propria that
has mucous and serous glands .
o Shift you attention to the hard palate that occupies the inferior region of the slide
and examine it under high magnification.
 Note that on its inferior surface it is lined by keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium.
 Deep to the epithelium see the relatively dense connective tissue that makes
up the lamina propria, which is richly supplied with blood vessels, nerves
and MALT. Note further that in the lamina propria there are adipocytes but
no glands.
 Deep to the lamina propria, find the bone that serves as framework of the
hard palate. Note the adipose tissue (yellow marrow) that occupies the
spaces between the bone spicules.
 Observe that the hard palate is lined on its superior surface by nasal mucosa
that consist of a respiratory epithelium and an underlying lamina propria.

 Go to the filmstrip and click the slide labeled “Nose, olfactory epithelium” to place the
slide in the main window. The slide contains a section of a nasal turbinate.
 o At relatively high magnification, pan the epithelium that lines the external surface
of this specimen. Note that two (2) types of epithelium forms this epithelial cover:
respiratory and olfactory.
 Notice that although respiratory and olfactory epithelia are both
pseudostratified columnar, olfactory epithelium can easily be
distinguished from respiratory epithelium because it is taller, more cellular,
and does not have any goblet cell.
 See that the transition between respiratory and olfactory epithelia is an
abrupt one.
o Focus on the respiratory epithelium and reinforce what you have learned in
the previous slide about this type of epithelium by scrutinizing this one. Note
that the section contains an unusually large number of goblet cells.
o Now, still at high magnification, shift you attention to the olfactory epithelium
in the specimen. Three types of cells comprise olfactory epithelium:
sustentacular or supporting cells, olfactory cells and basal cells. The three
types of cells are difficult to distinguish from each other in this and in most
routine LM preparations, but you can more or less pinpoint the three cell types
by looking at the nuclei, which form several levels. The ovoid nuclei that are
close to the surface of the epithelium belong to the sustentacular cells. The
round nuclei that are in the middle layers belong to the olfactory cells, which
are bipolar neurons. While the small, round and conical nuclei that are in the
basal area belong to the basal cells, which are stem cells.
o Using different magnifications, examine the lamina propria that underlies the
olfactory epithelium in the specimen.
 Note the glands of Bowman (olfactory glands) that are embedded in the
lamina propria. These are compound tubuloalveolar serous glands whose
secretion moistens the epithelial surface and serves as solvent for odiferous
substances.
 Note further that the lamina propria is well-supplied with blood vessels,
nerves and MALT.
o Deep to the lamina propria, find the bone tissue that serves as framework of this
nasal turbinate.

LARYNX
In studying the larynx, you will be using the following slides that are already on the
filmstrip.

 Epiglottis
 Larynx, vocal cord

 On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled “Epiglottis” to place it in the main window. The
slide contains a section of the epiglottis, which forms the superior part of the larynx.
 o At low magnification, note that the epiglottis is made up of an elastic cartilage
(epiglotic cartilage) that is enveloped by mucous membrane.
The epiglottis, is a leaf-like structure that projects upward behind the tongue
and the hyoid bone. It protects the glottis, the opening between the vocal cords.
During swallowing the epiglottis bends backward to cover the entrance of the
larynx to prevent food and liquid from entering the larynx. After swallowing, it
returns to its original upright position.
o At high magnification, reinforce what you already know about elastic cartilage by
studying the epiglottic cartilage.
Six cartilages comprise the framework of the larynx. What are the names of
these cartilages? Which are paired and which are not? Which are hyaline and
which are elastic?
o Still at high magnification, examine the mucosa that encases the epiglottic
cartilage.
 Note that it is made up of an epithelium and an underlying lamina
propria.
 Pan the epithelium and observe that two types of epithelium lines or
covers the epiglottis: nonkeratinized stratified squamous and
respiratory.
The epiglottis is lined over its anterior surface and upper half of its
posterior surface—areas that get in contact with swallowed food—by
nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium, elsewhere it is lined by
respiratory epithelium.
 Now, pan the lamina propia.
o Note that it is richly supplied with MALT although no lymphoid
nodules are present in this section, blood vessels and nerves.
o Note further that in the area where the overlying epithelium is
respiratory, there are serous and mucous glands.

 Go back to the filmstrip and place the slide labeled “Larynx, vocal fold” in the main
window by clicking its image. The slide shows a frontal section of the larynx at the level
of the vocal folds.
o At low magnification, distinguish the true vocal fold (cord) from the
ventricular or false vocal fold (cord). The true and false vocal cords are
separated by a space, the laryngeal ventricle, which has narrow pouch-like
invaginations (not well-delineated in this slide) called ventricular recesses.
Both vocal folds are lined by mucous membrane that consists of an epithelium
and an underlying lamina propria. The false vocal cord is the structure with
glands in its lamina propria. You may have to rotate your slide for proper
orientation, because the false vocal fold should be located superior to the true
vocal fold.
o Now, pan the epithelium under high magnification. Note that both the true and
false vocal cords are lined by nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
In the ventricular recesses, the epithelium is respiratory (ciliated stratified
 columnar in some areas), but in this slide, the epithelium in these areas are not
intact.
o Study the lamina propria that underlie both vocal folds under high
magnification.
 Note that it is well-supplied with MALT and blood vessels.
 Observe that in the false vocal cord there are numerous glands—serous,
mucous and mixed. In the true vocal cords, the lamina propria is rich in
elastic fibers that comprise the vocalis ligament, but the elastic fibers are
not distinguishable in this slide.
o Deep to the lamina propria in the true vocal cord, note the skeletal muscles that
are shown mostly in cross section. How can you tell these muscle fibers are
skeletal when you see them in cross-section? These muscle fibers belong to the
vocalis muscle, which insert into the vocalis ligament. Contraction of these
muscles allows for the production of different sounds. Delineate the
endomysium and perimysium of the muscle. Observe that in those areas where
the muscle fibers are shown in longitudinal section, the striations of the fibers
can be appreciated.

TRACHEA
 On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled “Trachea” to place it in the main window. The
slide contains a cross-section of the trachea, which is a permanently patent tube that
serves as passageway for air to and from the larynx and the main bronchi.
o Under lowest magnification possible, examine the slide. Note that aside from the
trachea (whose lumen is the large ovoid empty space that occupies the central
area of the specimen), parts of the thyroid gland and the esophagus can be
seen in the slide. The esophagus is the tubular structure on the lower portion of
the slide while portions of the thyroid gland—which can easily be identified
because they consists of cystic structures that contain a highly eosinophilic
material—are on both sides of the trachea. You need not study these two
organs in this session.
o At relatively low magnification, delineate the histologic layers of the trachea,
which from the luminal side consist of: mucosa, submucosa, cartilage and
muscle layer, and adventitia.
 Note that the most prominent layer of the trachea is the cartilage and
muscle layer, which consists of C-shaped cartilages whose open
posterior ends are bridged by muscle tissue.
 Note further that the submucosa is difficult to delineate from the
mucosa, but it is the region which contains glands.
o Now, examine the mucosa under high magnification.
 Note that it consists of a respiratory epithelium and a lamina propria.
 Observe that the epithelium has a rather thick basement membrane that
separates it from the underlying lamina propria.
  Note also that the lamina propria (which is unusually thin in this
section) is well supplied with MALT.
o In the submucosa, identify the the tracheal glands, which are mixed,
tubuloalveolar glands.
o Turn your attention to the cartilage and muscle layer. Scrutinize the layer
under high magnification.
 Note that much of the layer is occupied by a C-shaped cartilage. What
type of cartilage is this?
 Delineate the perichondrium.
 Find the smooth muscle fibers that span the open posterior end of the C-
shaped cartilage. The muscle fibers comprise the trachealis muscle.
o External to the perichondrium of the cartilage and the smooth muscles, delineate
the adventitia, which consists of loose connective tissue that contains
numerous adipocytes, blood vessels and nerves.

LUNG

In studying the histology of the lung, you will use the following slides that are already in the
filmstrip:
 Lung 1
 Lung 2
 Lung 3
 Lung-Fetus

 On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled “Lung 1”, which contains a section of the lung.
o Under very low magnification:
 Note that the parenchyma of the lung consists mainly of irregular spaces
that are separated from each other fine threads of tissues. The spaces are
the lumens of the alveoli while the tissue in between the spaces are the
interalveolar septa.
 Note further that among the alveoli are many tubular structures that are
shown in various sections—longitudinal, cross and oblique. These tubular
structures are either segments of the bronchial tree or blood vessels.
o Under low magnification, locate parts of the visceral pleura, which lines the left
edge of this section of the lung. Shift to high magnification and examine the
pleura. Note that it is made up of a relatively thin layer of connective tissue that
is lined externally by a simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium).
o Study the section systematically (e..g., left to right, up-down) using different
magnifications and identify the different segments of the bronchial tree. The
segments you will be able to identify and their description are are listed below.
Bear in mind that the descriptions apply to typical structures, hence, they may not
exactly match the appearance of the segments of the bronchial tree in this slide.
1. Intrapulmonary bronchi. The intrapulmonary bronchi vary in size but
their distinctive feature is the presence of cartilage in their wall. The
intrapulmonary bronchi are lined on their luminal surface by a mucous
membrane that is thrown into folds. This mucous membrane consists of a
respiratory epithelium that progressively becomes lower with each
generation of branches, and a lamina propria. Deep to the lamina propria
is a band of smooth muscle that separates the mucosa from the
submucosa. The submucosa exhibits mixed glands which diminish in
number as the bronchi become smaller and sometimes, lymphoid nodules.
Deep to the submucosa are the cartilage plates that encircle the bronchi.
2. Bronchioles. The bronchioles are easy to distinguish from bronchi because
aside from the fact that they are smaller (< 1mm in diameter), they do not
have cartilage, submucosal glands or lymphoid nodules in their wall. The
bigger bronchioles are lined by very low ciliated pseudostratified
epithelium but in the smaller ones the epithelium can be simple columnar
or cuboidal although the cells are still ciliated. In the larger bronchioles, the
epithelium consists essentially of the same cells that are present in typical
respiratory epithelium except that there are no serous cells anymore and
that goblet cells are few. In the smaller bronchioles, on the other hand,
there are no more goblet cells but in addition to the other cells of
respiratory epithelium that are still present, there is a population of tall
cuboidal, nonciliated cells, called Clara cells, whose rounded apices possess
microvilli that often jut out of the surface of the epithelium. What are these
cells? There is no need to identiy these cells in the LM slides.
3. Terminal bronchioles. Terminal bronchioles are small tubes with a
diameter of less than 0.5 mm. They have simple cuboidal epithelium, which
is often nonciliated and devoid of goblet cells. Smooth muscle fibers that
separate the lamina propria from the submucosa can still be appreciated.
They are easy to identify if they are sectioned showing respiratory
bronchioles arising from them.
4. Respiratory bronchioles. Respiratory bronchioles are tiny tubes whose
wall consists merely of a simple cuboidal or squamous epithelium and a thin
layer of connective tissue where islands of smooth muscle cells are
 embedded. In bigger respiratory bronchioles there maybe some ciliated
cells, but in smaller ones there are none. They terminate by giving off
alveolar duct, but some alveoli and alveolar sacs (i.e., clusters of alveoli)
arise diretly from their wall.
5. Alveolar ducts . The wall of alveolar ducts consists of a simple squamous
epithelium and scanty underlying connective tissue where occasional
smooth muscle fibers are imbedded. They give off numerous alveoli and
alveolar sacs such that their wall is seen as consisting simply of knob-like
structures that guard the entrances into the alveoli and alveolar sacs.
o Now, focus you attention on the blood vessels that are in the lung parenchyma.
Pan the slide under different magnifications.
 Note that the blood vessels are in close proximity with the different
segments of the bronchial tree.
In the lung lobules, the branching pattern of the pulmonary artery and
bronchial artery mirror the branching pattern of the bronchial tree. The
branches of the pulmonary artery carry unoxygenated blood to the
pulmonary capillaries that are located in the interalveolar septum, while
the branches of the bronchial artery supply oxygenated blood to the
different segments of the bronchial tree and the rest of the lung
parenchyma.
 Distinguish the branches of the pulmonary artery from those of the
bronchial artery and from the tributaries of the pulmonary veins.
The branches of the pulmonary artery are much bigger than the branches
of the bronchial artery. The tributaries of the pulmonary veins within the
lobules, on the other hand, are located in the connective tissue septae, which
are some distance from the arteries and bronchioles. In addition, the veins
have thinner walls than the arteries.
o Under high magnification, scrutinize the alveoli.
 Note that adjacent alveoli have a common wall, the interalveolar
septum. The interalveolar septum consists of delicate connective tissue
that is lined on its luminal surfaces by a simple squamous epithelium. In the
connective tissue, capillaries (pulmonary capillaries) are embedded.
 Distinguish the type I alveolar cell (pneumonocyte type I; pulmonary
epithelial cell; small alveolar cell) from the type II alveolar cell
(pneumonocyte type II; great alveolar cell).
 These two types of cells comprise the simple squamous epithelium that
lines the luminal surfaces of the interalveolar septum. The type I
alveolar cells are flattened cells that cover 95% of the alveolar surface.
The type II alveolar cells, on the other hand, are much larger than the
type I alveolar cells. They occur singly or in groups of two or three
among the type I alveolar cells. They bulge into the alveolar lumen or
occupy niches in the alveolar wall.
 In the lumen of the alveoli, find pulmonary alveolar macrophages
(dust cells). They are easy to spot because they contain numerous
membrane-bound cytoplasmic inclusions which mostly contain dust
particles.

 Go to the filmstrip and click the slide labeled “Lung 2” to place it in the main window. In
this slide, the branches of the bronchial tree and the branches and tributaries of the
blood vessels are rendered very poorly, hence, simply use the slide in studying the
alveoli, which are better preserved in this slide than in the previous one.
o Under high magnification, examine the interalveolar septa.
 Distinguish the type I alveolar cells from the type II alveolar cells.
 Find pulmonary capillaries in the connective tissue core of the
interalveolar septa and identify the endothelial cells.
 In the lumen of the alveoli, look for pulmonary alveolar macrophages
(dust cells), which are very typical in this specimen.

 Go to the filmstrip and click the slide labeled “Lung 3” to place it in the main window.
Reinforce what you have learned about the histology of the lung by examining this slide
systematically under different magnifications.

 Now, click the image of the slide labeled “Lung-Fetus,” to place the specimen in the
main window. The slide contains a section of the lung of a fetus. Reinforce what you
have learned about the lung in the three (3) previous slides by examining this slide
under different magnifications. Bear in mind however, that the lung of a fetus has not
been inflated yet, hence, in this specimen, the distal segments of the bronchial tree are
difficult to distinguish.
o Locate the visceral pleura, which in this specimen is well-preserved. Verify that
it is made up of a relatively thin layer of connective tissue that is lined
externally by mesothelium.
 o Note the close relationship among the segments of the bronchial tree and the
branches of the pulmonary and bronchial arteries. Likewise, find tributaries
of the pulmonary vein.
o Identify intrapulmonary bronchi, bronchioles and terminal bronchioles.

PART 2: STUDY OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM IN ELECTRON MICROGRAPHS THAT

ARE POSTED IN THE INTERNET

 Close ImageScope, if you haven’t done so yet.

 Go to the INTERNET by double clicking either the Internet Explorer icon or the
Mozilla Firefox icon on your desktop. Then, split the screen so the Google window gets
to occupy just the left half of the screen.
 Search for and visit Histology websites that feature photomicrographs and electron
micrographs of the organs comprising the Respiratory System.
1. Study electron micrographs of the blood-air barrier. Make sure that if you are
shown an electron micrograph you can identify the components of the barrier, i.e.,
the pulmonary epithelial cell, the basal lamina of the alveolar epithelium, the
basal lamina of the capillary endothelium, and the capillary endothelial cell.
Often, the two basal laminae fuse together to form a common basal lamina for the
epithelial and endothelial cells.
2. Study electron micrographs of small bronchioles and terminal bronchioles.
Identify Clara cells in these micrographs.

end of module