Histology Certification Tissue Types 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of epithelium lines the urinary bladder and can change shape when stretched?
- Pseudostratified columnar
- Transitional (urothelium) (Correct answer)
- Stratified squamous
- Simple cuboidal
Correct answer: Transitional (urothelium)
Transitional epithelium (urothelium) is uniquely adapted to accommodate volume changes in the bladder.
Question 2: Areolar connective tissue is best described as which type?
- Dense regular
- Dense irregular
- Loose connective tissue (Correct answer)
- Specialized connective tissue
Correct answer: Loose connective tissue
Areolar tissue is a loose connective tissue with loosely arranged fibers and abundant ground substance.
Question 3: Which muscle tissue type has centrally placed nuclei and intercalated discs?
- Skeletal muscle
- Smooth muscle
- Cardiac muscle (Correct answer)
- Multiunit smooth muscle
Correct answer: Cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle is characterized by centrally located nuclei, branching fibers, and intercalated discs for cell-to-cell communication.
Question 4: What is the primary function of goblet cells found within columnar epithelium?
- Ion transport
- Secretion of mucus (Correct answer)
- Absorption of nutrients
- Cell division
Correct answer: Secretion of mucus
Goblet cells are unicellular exocrine glands that secrete mucus to lubricate and protect epithelial surfaces.
Question 5: Reticular fibers in connective tissue are primarily composed of which protein?
- Elastin
- Fibronectin
- Type III collagen (Correct answer)
- Laminin
Correct answer: Type III collagen
Reticular fibers are thin fibers made of type III collagen that form a supportive meshwork in lymphoid organs and liver.
Question 6: Which nervous tissue cell type produces myelin in the peripheral nervous system?
- Oligodendrocytes
- Schwann cells (Correct answer)
- Astrocytes
- Microglia
Correct answer: Schwann cells
Schwann cells produce myelin sheaths around peripheral nerve axons, unlike oligodendrocytes which myelinate CNS axons.
Question 7: Hyaline cartilage differs from fibrocartilage primarily because hyaline cartilage:
- Contains visible type I collagen bundles
- Lacks a perichondrium entirely
- Has an amorphous, glassy matrix with type II collagen (Correct answer)
- Is found only in intervertebral discs
Correct answer: Has an amorphous, glassy matrix with type II collagen
Hyaline cartilage has a homogeneous, glassy matrix rich in type II collagen that is not visible by light microscopy.
Histology Certification Tissue Types 2
Which type of epithelium lines the urinary bladder and can change shape when stretched?