(38) BIOL 275: Journey to the Center of the Mouse - Traveling Through the Trachea
Abstract
During the spring semester, the Microanatomy and Histology class learned the techniques of tissue collection, histological processing and staining, microscopic observation, and cellular evaluation and analysis. Here,... [ view full abstract ]
During the spring semester, the Microanatomy and Histology class learned the techniques of tissue collection, histological processing and staining, microscopic observation, and cellular evaluation and analysis. Here, we present a product of this work in a gallery of nine student project posters, each exploring a selected sample of mouse (Mus musculus) tissue or organs. For each project, tissue slides were processed using two complementary staining techniques to visualize a broader range of cellular structures and help gain a better understanding of the relationship between morphological structures and the regulation of physiological functions. To that end, each student’s poster delves into tissue-specific cell types and architectures to provide an overview of how those cells function to support the organism as a whole. We invite you along on this “Journey to the Center of the Mouse” and encourage you to talk with the students who did this work to gain a stronger understanding of multicellular organism complexity.
For my poster, I chose to explore the histology of the mouse trachea, known more commonly as the windpipe. As one of the primary conducting segments in the respiratory tract, the trachea contains a host of different tissue types that provide support for the tubular passage but also allow for flexibility during respiration. Some of its most recognizable features are the large rings of hyaline cartilage surrounding the passage, while other tissues include smooth muscle and elastic tissue located between these cartilaginous rings. On a molecular level, the epithelium of the trachea is composed of pseudostratified columnar cells intermixed with goblet cells and cilia. The goblet cells and the cilia work together to trap foreign particles in a secreted mucus layer and move them up and out through the pharynx, or throat. Lastly, the trachea contains a glandular layer just beneath the epithelium that also aids in mucus production. By closely examining the cells found in different samples of trachea tissue treated with complementary stains, I was able to see firsthand how each of these cell types functions not only in relation to the trachea, but to the respiratory system as a whole.
Authors
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Heather Pittman
(Sewanee - The University of the South)
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Brandon Moore
(Sewanee: The University of the South, Department of Biology)
Topic Area
Biology
Session
PS » Poster Session (14:30 - Friday, 28th April, Spencer Hall (Harris Commons))
Presentation Files
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