This slide presents some peculiar difficulties, but also abundant
clues for correct identification.
Does this specimen appear to have been wrinkled or folded?
Does the tissue have distinct layers?
Can you identify a mucosal surface?
Does the putative mucosal surface have a continuous epithelium?
- If not, what might have happened to it? (Some
post-mortem specimens shed epithelial cells from exposed mucosal
surfaces.)
- If the surface epithelium is missing, what other clues remain?
- Can you find any epithelial features? If so, describe
them.
Imagine how the lamina propria of various organs might appear, if
there were no epithelium on the surface.
- Can you find lamina propria on this specimen?
- Are there any epithelial features (e.g., glands or crypts) embedded
in the lamina propria?
- Can you find a muscularis mucosae?
Are there any distinctive features in the submucosa?
Is there any muscle? If so, the muscle organized into distinct
layers?
Hints on the next page are a bit more pointed. Don't
look unless you are stuck.
More hints.