Liver under microscope with 40x magnification

Liver under microscope with 400x magnification

Description:
 In histological terms, the liver consists of a large number of microscopic functional units
that work in unison to ensure the overall, proper activity of the entire organ. There are
three possible ways of describing one such unit, as given below:
o Classic lobule
 It consists of hexagonal plates of hepatocytes stacked on top of each other.
Within each plate, the hepatocytes radiate outwards from a central vein.
As they extend towards the periphery, the hepatocytes are arranged into
strips, similar to the spokes of a cartwheel. Hepatic sinusoids travel
between the strips of hepatocytes, draining into the central vein.
o Portal lobule
 While the classic lobule view focuses on the blood supply and hepatic
mass arrangement, the portal lobule view underlines the exocrine function
of the liver i.e. bile secretion
 In this case, each functional unit is a triangle, having a central axis through
a portal canal and the imaginary vertices through the three different but
closest portal canals surrounding it.
o Liver acinus
 A liver acinus functional unit is in the shape of an oval. The short axis is
represented by a shared border between two adjacent lobules together with
the portal canals. The long axis is an imaginary line between two adjacent
central veins.
 Functions:
o Filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the
body.
o Detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs.
o secretes bile
Thyroid under microscope with 400x magnification
Description:
 The tissue of the thyroid gland is composed mostly of thyroid follicles. The follicles are
made up of a central cavity filled with a sticky fluid called colloid. Surrounded by a wall
of epithelial follicle cells, the colloid is the center of thyroid hormone production, and
that production is dependent on the hormones’ essential and unique component: iodine.
Functions:
 Regulate many body functions by constantly releasing a steady amount of thyroid
hormones into the bloodstream.
Ileum (villi and goblet cells) under microscope with 400x magnification
Description:
 There are four layers that make up the wall of the ileum. From the inner to the outer
surface, these are:
 A mucous membrane, itself formed by three different layers:
o A single layer of tall cells (villi) that line the lumen of the organ. The
epithelium that forms the innermost part of the mucosa has five distinct types of
cells that serve different purposes, these are:
 enterocytes with microvilli, which digest and absorb nutrients;
 Goblet cells, which secrete mucin, a substance that lubricates the wall of
the organ;
 Paneth cells, most common in the terminal part of the ileum, are only
found at the bottom of the intestinal glands and release antimicrobial
substances such as alpha defensins and lysozyme;
 microfold cells, which take up and transport antigens from the lumen to
lymphatic cells of the lamina propria; and
 enteroendocrine cells, which secrete hormones.
o An underlying lamina propria composed of loose connective tissue and
containing germinal centers and large aggregates of lymphoid tissue called
Peyer's patches, which are a distinctive feature of the ileum.
o A thin layer of smooth muscle called muscularis mucosae.
 A submucosa formed by dense irregular connective tissue that carries the larger blood
vessels and a nervous component called submucosal plexus.
 An external muscular layer formed by two layers of smooth muscle arranged in circular
bundles in the inner layer and in longitudinal bundles in the outer layer.
 A serosa composed of mesothelium, a single layer of flat cells with varying quantities of
underlying connective and adipose tissue.

Functions:
 enzymatic cleavage of nutrients
 absorption of vitamin B12 (with intrinsic factor from the stomach), fats (especially fatty
acids and glycerol) and bile salts
 immunological function (access and transfer of antigens)
Vein under microscope with 400x magnification
Description:
 veins are composed of three layers.
o Tunica intima/interna
 The innermost layer and lines the lumen of the blood vessels.
o Tunica media
 This is the middle layer. It is made of smooth muscle and elastic fibers. It
is responsible for vasodialation and vasoconstriction of the blood vessels.
o Tunica adventitia
 This is the most superficial of the layers. It is made of dense irregular CT
with lots of collagen fibers running in all directions for strength in many
different directions.
 Functions
o return deoxygenated blood from organs to the heart
o return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium