Endocrine system MMS

Histology and Histopathology of the Endocrine Glands

Venue: Medical museum

Learning outcomes:
1. Identify the normal histology of pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal
and endocrine pancreas.
2. Identify the histopathology of common diseases of the above glands.
3. Correlate the normal microscopic anatomy with that of the
histopathology.
Resources provided: Microscopic slides and photomicrographs of Pituitary, Thyroid,
Pancreas and Adrenal glands and pathology laminates of the Endocrine System.

1
Anterior pituitary

Acidophils have cytoplasm that stains pinkish.

Basophils have cytoplasm that stains bluish.
Chromophobes have cytoplasm that stains very
poorly.
2
Posterior pituitary

Bulk of the posterior pituitary is composed of

unmyeleinated axons from paraventricular and
supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus.
In between are the pituicytes which are glial cells.

3
Thyroid gland

Note the follicular arrangement. Follicular cells are

cuboidal. Within the follicles are the colloid.
In between the follicles are the parafollicular cells
which are arranged in clumps.

4
Parathyroid gland

Chief cells are dark staining and are arranged in

clumps or cords. Adjacent to these clumps or
cords of cells are large sinusoidal spaces.
Oxyphil cells are scanty and are pale staining.

5
Pancreas

Cells of the exocrine part of the pancreas are

arranged as acini. In between are the endocrine
islets (Langerhans). The cells within islets are
arranged in clusters with adjacent sinusoidal
spaces. Special staining is needed to differentiate
the types of islet cells.

6
Adrenal gland (cortex)

Note the capsule of the gland.

Immediately underneath the capsule is the zona
glomerulosa (G). The cells are arranged as
irregular cords.
Next layer is the zona fasiculata (F). Cells have a
foamy appearance (due to lipid droplets) and the
cells are arranged as straight cords that radiates
towards the medulla.
Innermost layer of the cortex is the zona reticularis
(R). Cells are arranged in cords which run in
different directions to form a network.

7
Adrenal gland (medulla)

Chromaffin cells are large and basophilic. They

have a granular cytoplasm. The cells are arranged
in clusters with sinusoids in between.