The source for this specimen should be obvious (and confidently
so), provided you are familiar with the organ it represents. The
sample is normal, not pathological.
Note the various distinct layers.
Which organs have such distinct layers?
Note the overall size of the specimen. Note that the specimen
is complete, including the entire circumference of the organ as well
as some supporting connective tissue.
Note specific features of the mucosal layer.
- What are the prominent patches (arrows) composed of many small cells
with round nuclei? Note the clear distinction between the paler
centers of and darker caps of these patches.
- What shape is the mucosal surface?
- How many different kinds of epithelial cells comprise the surface
epithelium?
- Although most of the surface epithelium has been lost (a fairly
typical post-mortem change), some characteristic epithelium can still
be easily seen in protected sites deep in the mucosa.
- Can you see a distinct muscularis mucosae?
Are there any distinctive features in the submucosa?
Is the muscularis externa organized into distinct layers? What
kind of muscle comprises the muscularis in this specimen?
This slide should be easy. The overall size and
the presence of so many lymph nodules in the mucosa are typical of only
one organ. Other details of mucosal epithelium and other layers
are consistent with this site.
There are no more hints.
