Human Physiology – Histology practical

Mammalian tissue histology slides for the light microscope.

This pratical was of three hours, i.e. 9:00-12:00 in John Maynard Smith (JMS) building in 1A1 Laboratory. Nearly fifty students had gathered out side the lab. before the scheduled time. The lab. was already set up and two demonstrators were waiting inside the to receive the students. The main person to conduct the practical is none other than Dr. Camilla Tornoe who delivered two lectures   earlier on the same topic. As soon as she entered the lab., she asked all students whether they have come with the practical hand out or not. All students had brought. She told students what they are going to do today and what is expected from them. In this practical they will be looking at thin sections of material which have been given a general stain, either Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) or Massons Trichrome both of which show the basic structure of tissue. For this assignment rat tissue was used.

The procedure for the preparation of microtome slides, staining was mentioned in the practical hand out. The  first year students are not expected to do this step.

Students were asked to collect pre-stained, permanent microtome slides of tissues of different organs like, liver, pacreas,kidney,heart,small intestine. Surprisingly all students could get one set of all slides. A4 size plain white sheets were kept on the teachers table. Students are expected to draw maximum two diagrams on each paper. Each sheet should bear the name of the student. Student should draw neatly, label, write the name of the stain used and magnification of the diagram (10 x 40) = 400x.

Simultaneously teacher projected the slide one at a time over the T V screen. The purpose is to give you an insight into the structure of these organs. it is intended to make students to think about how structure and function are linked.

On a separate sheet of paper, students are expected to write their name and answer the questions (answers should be typed, not hand-written).

Students have to do a literature search for the answer to some of the questions. Sources of information should be appropriately included in a bibliography at the end.

 They are also need to go through the online tutorials on the Human Physiology

course website in order to answer.

Important:

The answers to the questions constitute 60% of the assignment. However, students cannot pass the assessment without decent drawings with correct labelling and magnification, even if they have perfect answers to the questions. Students are expected to submit this assignment on 7th week of the autumn term.