First Hour Exam: Think histologically!

My objective for the general histology part of this course has been to give you a grounding in tissues and cell types. Your job here is to show me that you Îgot itâ!

These are the question for your first hour exam. You may answer any one (but only one) and can take the entire period or leave whenever you are finished, but I imagine that a good answer will take at least ten well-written pages or something more an hour of writing. I would appreciate your using a dark ball point pen rather than a pencil and ask that you write on every other line especially if you tend to have small handwriting. Please leave wide margins if you would like me to comment on your answer. Good luck!

1. For the most part, contemporary histologists use the same words for tissues that were used in the early-19^th century, even though biology has changed a great deal since then. The excuse would seem to be that amendments to definitions and concepts have been made along the way in order to accommodate changes in biology. What are (1) epithelial, (2) muscular, (3) connective, and (4) nervous tissue according to their (a) classical definitions and their (b) 21^st century versions?

2. Tissues exhibit three types of cellular dynamics: (1) In some tissues, terminally differentiated cells are continuously replaced; (2) in other tissues, cells retain the potential to divide while ordinarily remaining in a nondividing state; (3) and in still other tissues, terminally differentiated cells remain in a nondividing, static state for the duration of the tissueâs life. Place each tissue ([a] epithelial, [b] connective, [c] muscle, [d] nerve and [e] blood) in one of these categories and suggest how the particular type of dynamic adapts a tissue to its function.

3) Everything you see in paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin is an artifact ? from basophilia to eosinophilia, from the appearance of cell boundaries (or their absence) to clumps (or their absence) in the nucleus ? yet we rely on these artifacts to make statements about normal structure and function in living tissues. What have you learned specifically from particular artifacts about the normal function of particular cells in each of the tissues?
 

Grades will be based on accuracy (correct reporting without major errors in content), completeness (inclusion of everything necessary both to make your argument and to defeat contrary arguments), and concreteness (direct and definitive examples). Spelling will not count (as long as I can figure out what youâre trying to identify), but correct spelling and attention to grammar (especially agreement) always improve clarity, and clarity is required in evaluating your answer.

BioSc 1450 Spring 00

Second Hour Exam: Think histologically!

My objective for the first of the two special histology exams is to test your knowledge of the endocrine, integumentary, respiratory, skeletal, circulatory and lymphatic systems with
hematopoiesis thrown in. Iâm well aware that my objective exceeds the bounds of reason, so Iâll let you choose what or which system or systems to discuss and how much to say about on any
subject. Your job is to show me that youâve understood the material and can organize your answer within the time provided.

These are the question for the hour exam. You may answer any one (but only one) and can take the entire period or leave whenever you are finished, but I imagine that a good answer will take at
least ten well-written pages or writing for something more an hour. I would appreciate your using a dark ball point pen rather than a pencil and ask that you write on every other line especially if
you tend to have small handwriting. Please leave wide margins if you would like me to comment on your answer. Good luck!

1. For the most part, contemporary histologists use the same words for tissues that were used in the early-19th century, even though biology has changed a great deal since then. The excuse would
seem to be that amendments to definitions and concepts have been made along the way in order to accommodate changes in biology. What are the (1) epithelial, (2) muscular, (3) connective, and (4)
nervous parts of one or more of the above organ systems, and how do these parts compare to tissues as classically identified and as they might be better identified in the 21st century?

2. Tissues exhibit three types of cellular dynamics: (1) In some tissues, terminally differentiated cells are continuously replaced; (2) in other tissues, cells retain the potential to divide while
ordinarily remaining in a nondividing state; (3) and in still other tissues, terminally differentiated cells remain in a nondividing, static state for the duration of the tissueâs life. Chose one or more of
the above organ systems and describe how the dynamics of each tissue ([a] epithelial, [b] connective, [c] muscle, [d] nerve, and [e] blood [in terms of hematopoiesis]) are integrated to each other and
adapted to the organ system.

3) Everything you see in paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin is an artifact ­ from basophilia to eosinophilia, from the appearance of cell boundaries (or their absence) to clumps (or
their absence) in the nucleus ­ yet we rely on these artifacts to make statements about normal structure and function in living tissues. What have you learned specifically from particular artifacts
about the normal function of particular cells in one or more of the above organ systems?

Grades will be based on accuracy (correct reporting without major errors in content), completeness (inclusion of everything necessary both to make your argument and to defeat contrary
arguments), and concreteness (direct and definitive examples). Spelling will not count (as long as I can figure out what youâre trying to identify), but correct spelling and attention to grammar
(especially agreement) always improve clarity, and clarity is essential for evaluating your answer.

Question/answer for third hour exam

Once again, you can work until the end of the period or leave whenever you are finished, but I imagine that a good answer will take at least ten well-written pages or writing for something more an
hour. I would appreciate your using a dark ball point pen rather than a pencil and ask that you write on every other line especially if you tend to have small handwriting. I do not make comments on
the final exam, but you may pick up your answer book at my office and discuss you paper with me (appointment by arrangement).

1. For the most part, contemporary histologists use the same words for tissues that were used in the early-19th century, even though biology has changed a great deal since then. The excuse would
seem to be that amendments to definitions and concepts have been made along the way in order to accommodate changes in biology. What are the (1) epithelial, (2) muscular, (3) connective, (4)
nervous, and/or (5) gametic parts of one or more of the above organ systems, and how do these parts compare to tissues as classically identified and as they might be better identified in the 21st
century?

2. Tissues exhibit three types of cellular dynamics: (1) In some tissues, terminally differentiated cells are continuously replaced; (2) in other tissues, cells retain the potential to divide while
ordinarily remaining in a nondividing state; (3) and in still other tissues, terminally differentiated cells remain in a nondividing, static state for the duration of the tissueÍs life. Chose one or more of
the above organ systems and describe how the dynamics of each tissue ([a] epithelial, [b] connective, [c] muscle, [d] nerve, and [e] gametic are integrated to each other and adapted to the organ
system.

3. Everything you see in paraffin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin is an artifact - from basophilia to eosinophilia, from the appearance of cell boundaries (or their absence) to clumps (or
their absence) in the nucleus - yet we rely on these artifacts to make statements about normal structure and function in living tissues. What have you learned specifically from particular artifacts
about the normal function of particular cells in the above organ systems?

Alternate Question: What does it mean to 'Think histologically'?

Grades will be based on accuracy (correct reporting without major errors in content), completeness (inclusion of everything necessary both to make your argument and to defeat contrary
arguments), and concreteness (direct and definitive examples). Spelling will not count (as long as I can figure out what youÍre trying to identify), but correct spelling and attention to grammar
(especially agreement) always improve clarity, and clarity is essential for evaluating your answer.