Histology & Microscopic Anatomy Illustration Flashcards

When illustrating a histological section stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), which color would the cell nucleus typically appear?

Answer: Blue/purple

Hematoxylin binds to acidic structures such as chromatin in the nucleus, staining them blue/purple, while eosin stains cytoplasm and connective tissue pink.

In a photomicrograph of skeletal muscle, which combination of features must a medical illustrator accurately depict to distinguish it from other muscle types?

Answer: Cross-striations and peripherally located nuclei

Skeletal muscle is characterized by prominent cross-striations from organized sarcomeres and multiple peripherally located nuclei, distinguishing it from cardiac and smooth muscle.

A medical illustrator is referencing micrographs to depict cellular ultrastructure including ribosomes and mitochondrial cristae. Which imaging modality provides this level of resolution?

Answer: Transmission electron microscopy

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides nanometer-scale resolution needed to visualize subcellular organelles such as ribosomes and mitochondrial cristae.

When illustrating a cross-section of a muscular artery, the medical illustrator must accurately depict which three concentric wall layers?

Answer: Tunica intima, tunica media, and tunica adventitia

Arteries have three wall layers: the inner tunica intima (endothelium), the thick tunica media (smooth muscle), and the outer tunica adventitia (connective tissue).

A medical illustrator is working from a PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) stained tissue section. Which cellular components would appear magenta/pink in this preparation?

Answer: Glycogen and mucopolysaccharides

PAS oxidizes vicinal diol groups in carbohydrates to aldehydes, which then react with Schiff reagent to produce a magenta color, highlighting glycogen and mucopolysaccharides.

When illustrating simple columnar epithelium lining the small intestine, which two specialized surface features must be prominently shown?

Answer: Microvilli (brush border) and goblet cells

Small intestinal epithelium features apical microvilli forming the brush border to maximize absorptive surface area, interspersed with mucus-secreting goblet cells.

In a labeled diagram of the classic liver lobule, which structure is correctly placed at the center of the lobule?

Answer: Central vein

The classic liver lobule is organized around a central vein (terminal hepatic venule) at its core, with portal triads located at the peripheral corners.