Human Histology for Amateur Microscopists

This article is on human histology for the amateur microscopist. It provides a foundation on the exploration of the human anatomy particularly the human tissue, resources need in conducting the research, tools and basic equipment and the use of tissue culture microscope. This article is for students and health care professionals who are interested in human histology.

This article does not include an introduction to histology rather it is only to only provide a brief reference to medical students and professionals to quickly start their interest in human histology.The article starts on how the author became fascinated with human histology or the study of microscopic anatomy of the human tissue. He begins to narrate how he got interested into the study of human tissue, initial sample used and references for his initial study.

A brief description on microscope and tools required are described in the article along with preferred lenses for the specimen. Using a tissue microscope with semi apochromats is recommended by the author when viewing specimen. To know what a semi aphromat lens is one has to understand other types of lenses; achromat and apochromat. As stated in an article by Tomas Higgins “achromats are chromatically corrected for blue and red wavelengths and show no spherical aberration in the yellow, while apochromats exhibit better spherical aberration control throughout the visible and chromatically corrected at three wavelengths in the blue, yellow and red.” A semi-apochromat is therefore a compromise between the two lenses.

Also the limitation of specimen particularly limited to blood smears is explained in the article. As FDA regulations prohibits the handling of biohazardous materials. Also due to the limited availability of equipment used in the preparation of tissue samples inhibits such sample to be produce individually. Equipment is therefore limited to the use of tissue culture microscope when starting with the basic of human histology. The article includes suppliers in acquiring histology slides.

The article then directs readers to the different available resources available from books by B.Young andJ.W. Heath, Wheater’s Functional Histology and through utilizing the power of the internet. A vast resource of topics is available on hematology and hemopathology, with the latter dealing with diseases in the blood. Related links are provided by the author.

The article then explains how to sustain the interest when exploring microscopic anatomy. Included are tips and guidelines, not only through the experience of looking at the specimen but going deeper into the field of research and identification. The author suggests try and identify component of the specimen, starting from the easiest like epithelial and muscle tissue.

The article then continues detailing the composition of the human body. Starting from the cell, which is the basic unit of any living organism. It then explains tissues which are groups of cell that form to accomplish a single function; they are also the basic building block of organ. It then uses the lungs as basis in explaining microscopic anatomy.