ANATOMY (ANAT 380) FINAL EXAM: VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
ANAT 380
Q: What is the resolving power of a standard light microscope? ANSWER
Approximately 0.2 micrometers (200 nanometers).
Q: What is the resolving power of a transmission electron microscope
(TEM)? ANSWER Approximately 0.2 nanometers.
Q: Why are tissues fixed before sectioning? ANSWER To preserve cellular
structures and prevent autolysis (decay) by cross-linking proteins.
Q: What is the most common chemical fixative used in histology?
ANSWER Formaldehyde (usually as formalin).
Q: What is the purpose of embedding tissue in paraffin wax? ANSWER
To provide a rigid matrix that allows the tissue to be cut into very thin
slices (sections).
Q: What instrument is used to cut paraffin-embedded tissues? ANSWER
A microtome.
Q: What does Hematoxylin stain? ANSWER Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA),
staining them blue/purple (basophilic).
Q: What does Eosin stain? ANSWER Cytoplasmic proteins and
extracellular fibers, staining them pink/red (acidophilic).
Q: What does PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) stain specifically highlight?
ANSWER Carbohydrates and glycogen, staining them magenta.
Q: What organelle is the primary site of ATP production? ANSWER The
mitochondrion.
,Q: What is the structural feature of the inner mitochondrial membrane
that increases surface area? ANSWER Cristae.
Q: What is the function of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)?
ANSWER Synthesis of proteins destined for secretion, membranes, or
lysosomes.
Q: Why does RER appear "rough" under an electron microscope?
ANSWER Because it is studded with ribosomes.
Q: What is the function of Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)?
ANSWER Lipid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium storage.
Q: What is the primary function of the Golgi apparatus? ANSWER
Modification, sorting, and packaging of proteins and lipids into vesicles.
Q: What are lysosomes? ANSWER Membrane-bound organelles
containing digestive enzymes (acid hydrolases) for intracellular digestion.
Q: What is the role of peroxisomes? ANSWER They contain oxidase
enzymes to break down fatty acids and detoxify harmful substances like
hydrogen peroxide.
Q: What structure makes up the cytoskeleton of the cell? ANSWER
Microfilaments (actin), intermediate filaments, and microtubules.
Q: What are centrioles made of? ANSWER Microtubules arranged in a
"9+0" triplet configuration.
Q: What is the primary component of the cell membrane? ANSWER A
phospholipid bilayer.
Q: What type of cell junction forms a barrier to prevent molecules from
passing between cells? ANSWER Tight junctions (zonula occludens).
Q: What type of cell junction provides mechanical strength by linking
intermediate filaments between cells? ANSWER Desmosomes (macula
adherens).
Q: What type of junction allows for direct cytoplasmic communication
between cells? ANSWER Gap junctions.
Q: What is the function of a hemidesmosome? ANSWER To anchor the
basal surface of epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane.
Q: What is the nuclear envelope composed of? ANSWER Two
phospholipid bilayers with nuclear pores.
, Q: What is the nucleolus? ANSWER The site of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
synthesis and ribosomal subunit assembly.
Q: What is euchromatin? ANSWER Transcriptionally active, lightly
packed chromatin that stains lightly with hematoxylin.
Q: What is heterochromatin? ANSWER Transcriptionally inactive,
densely packed chromatin that stains darkly with hematoxylin.
Q: What is the difference between a primary and secondary lysosome?
ANSWER Primary lysosomes are newly formed and inactive; secondary
lysosomes are active, having fused with an endosome or phagosome.
Q: What is autophagy? ANSWER The process where a cell engulfs its own
damaged organelles using lysosomes for recycling.
Epithelial Tissue (31-60)
Q: What are the general characteristics of epithelial tissue? ANSWER It
covers surfaces, lines cavities, lacks blood vessels (avascular), and has
high regenerative capacity.
Q: How do epithelial cells receive nutrients? ANSWER By diffusion from
the underlying connective tissue.
Q: What is the basement membrane? ANSWER The extracellular
structure that anchors the epithelium to the underlying connective tissue.
Q: What are the two layers of the basement membrane? ANSWER The
basal lamina (produced by epithelium) and the reticular lamina (produced
by connective tissue).
Q: What are the main components of the basal lamina? ANSWER Type IV
collagen, laminin, and proteoglycans.
Q: What is simple squamous epithelium primarily adapted for? ANSWER
Rapid diffusion and filtration (e.g., alveoli, glomeruli, endothelium).
Q: Where is simple cuboidal epithelium typically found? ANSWER Lining
kidney tubules and the ducts of glands.
Q: What is the primary function of simple columnar epithelium? ANSWER
Absorption and secretion (e.g., lining the stomach and intestines).
Q: What are microvilli? ANSWER Microscopic, finger-like projections of
the apical membrane that increase surface area for absorption.
ANSWERS LATEST VERSION 2026/2027
ANAT 380
Q: What is the resolving power of a standard light microscope? ANSWER
Approximately 0.2 micrometers (200 nanometers).
Q: What is the resolving power of a transmission electron microscope
(TEM)? ANSWER Approximately 0.2 nanometers.
Q: Why are tissues fixed before sectioning? ANSWER To preserve cellular
structures and prevent autolysis (decay) by cross-linking proteins.
Q: What is the most common chemical fixative used in histology?
ANSWER Formaldehyde (usually as formalin).
Q: What is the purpose of embedding tissue in paraffin wax? ANSWER
To provide a rigid matrix that allows the tissue to be cut into very thin
slices (sections).
Q: What instrument is used to cut paraffin-embedded tissues? ANSWER
A microtome.
Q: What does Hematoxylin stain? ANSWER Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA),
staining them blue/purple (basophilic).
Q: What does Eosin stain? ANSWER Cytoplasmic proteins and
extracellular fibers, staining them pink/red (acidophilic).
Q: What does PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) stain specifically highlight?
ANSWER Carbohydrates and glycogen, staining them magenta.
Q: What organelle is the primary site of ATP production? ANSWER The
mitochondrion.
,Q: What is the structural feature of the inner mitochondrial membrane
that increases surface area? ANSWER Cristae.
Q: What is the function of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)?
ANSWER Synthesis of proteins destined for secretion, membranes, or
lysosomes.
Q: Why does RER appear "rough" under an electron microscope?
ANSWER Because it is studded with ribosomes.
Q: What is the function of Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)?
ANSWER Lipid synthesis, detoxification, and calcium storage.
Q: What is the primary function of the Golgi apparatus? ANSWER
Modification, sorting, and packaging of proteins and lipids into vesicles.
Q: What are lysosomes? ANSWER Membrane-bound organelles
containing digestive enzymes (acid hydrolases) for intracellular digestion.
Q: What is the role of peroxisomes? ANSWER They contain oxidase
enzymes to break down fatty acids and detoxify harmful substances like
hydrogen peroxide.
Q: What structure makes up the cytoskeleton of the cell? ANSWER
Microfilaments (actin), intermediate filaments, and microtubules.
Q: What are centrioles made of? ANSWER Microtubules arranged in a
"9+0" triplet configuration.
Q: What is the primary component of the cell membrane? ANSWER A
phospholipid bilayer.
Q: What type of cell junction forms a barrier to prevent molecules from
passing between cells? ANSWER Tight junctions (zonula occludens).
Q: What type of cell junction provides mechanical strength by linking
intermediate filaments between cells? ANSWER Desmosomes (macula
adherens).
Q: What type of junction allows for direct cytoplasmic communication
between cells? ANSWER Gap junctions.
Q: What is the function of a hemidesmosome? ANSWER To anchor the
basal surface of epithelial cells to the underlying basement membrane.
Q: What is the nuclear envelope composed of? ANSWER Two
phospholipid bilayers with nuclear pores.
, Q: What is the nucleolus? ANSWER The site of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
synthesis and ribosomal subunit assembly.
Q: What is euchromatin? ANSWER Transcriptionally active, lightly
packed chromatin that stains lightly with hematoxylin.
Q: What is heterochromatin? ANSWER Transcriptionally inactive,
densely packed chromatin that stains darkly with hematoxylin.
Q: What is the difference between a primary and secondary lysosome?
ANSWER Primary lysosomes are newly formed and inactive; secondary
lysosomes are active, having fused with an endosome or phagosome.
Q: What is autophagy? ANSWER The process where a cell engulfs its own
damaged organelles using lysosomes for recycling.
Epithelial Tissue (31-60)
Q: What are the general characteristics of epithelial tissue? ANSWER It
covers surfaces, lines cavities, lacks blood vessels (avascular), and has
high regenerative capacity.
Q: How do epithelial cells receive nutrients? ANSWER By diffusion from
the underlying connective tissue.
Q: What is the basement membrane? ANSWER The extracellular
structure that anchors the epithelium to the underlying connective tissue.
Q: What are the two layers of the basement membrane? ANSWER The
basal lamina (produced by epithelium) and the reticular lamina (produced
by connective tissue).
Q: What are the main components of the basal lamina? ANSWER Type IV
collagen, laminin, and proteoglycans.
Q: What is simple squamous epithelium primarily adapted for? ANSWER
Rapid diffusion and filtration (e.g., alveoli, glomeruli, endothelium).
Q: Where is simple cuboidal epithelium typically found? ANSWER Lining
kidney tubules and the ducts of glands.
Q: What is the primary function of simple columnar epithelium? ANSWER
Absorption and secretion (e.g., lining the stomach and intestines).
Q: What are microvilli? ANSWER Microscopic, finger-like projections of
the apical membrane that increase surface area for absorption.
