Videos - Histology of Cells & Basic Tissues

How to better understand histological features of human cells, and basic tissues.

View extensive video descriptions of all the histological features of human cells, and basic tissues - Epithelium, Connective Tissues, Muscle Tissues and Nerve Tissues - including the Spinal Cord and the Brain. Scroll down to view the entire curriculum in a page below.
Histology of the cell, epithelium, connective tissues, muscle and nerve tissues.

Histology Quizzes - Cells and Basic Tissues

Complete over 1500 quiz questions to prepare for your formal histology examination! Your histology examination will most likely contain very similar questions!

These extensive series of histology quiz questions are taken from content in "Meyer's Histology - Online Interactive Atlas" and 3 very well known Histology textbooks: Ovalle, W. K., Nahirney, P. C. and Netter, F. H. (2013) Netter's Essential Histology. Elsevier Saunders. Ross, M. H. and Pawlina, W. (2016) Histology: A Text and Atlas. Wolters Kluwer Health. Lowe, J. S., Anderson, P. G. and Anderson, S. I. (2018) Stevens & Lowe's Human Histology- E-Book. 5 edn.: Elsevier Health Sciences.

Videos - Histology of Human Organs

How to better understand histological characteristics of all human organs?

View extensive video descriptions of all the histological features of human organs within the human organ systems - cardiovascular system, respiratory system, endocrine system, male reproductive system, female reproductive system, urinary system, lymphoid organs or lymphatic system, oral cavity and the digestive system, histology of the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Scroll down to view the entire curriculum in a page below.
Histology of the human organs.

Histology Quizzes - Human Organ Systems

Complete over 1500 quiz questions to prepare for your formal histology examination.

These extensive series of histology quiz questions are taken from content in "Meyer's Histology - Online Interactive Atlas" and 3 very well known Histology textbooks: Ovalle, W. K., Nahirney, P. C. and Netter, F. H. (2013) Netter's Essential Histology. Elsevier Saunders. Ross, M. H. and Pawlina, W. (2016) Histology: A Text and Atlas. Wolters Kluwer Health. Lowe, J. S., Anderson, P. G. and Anderson, S. I. (2018) Stevens & Lowe's Human Histology- E-Book. 5 edn.: Elsevier Health Sciences.

Meyer's Histology - Online Interactive Atlas and Virtual Microscope

Improve your identification and understanding of histological structures!

View over over 4000 high resolution images of histological structures accompanied by interactive descriptive text that labels relevant histological details of every cell and tissue in the human body. This award-winning histology atlas is divided into "Human Cells & Basic Tissues" then "Human Organ Systems". View histological slides using virtual microscopy and test your knowledge by completing extensive quizzes on all topics.
What is Histology? Examine histology slides! Got to https://www.histology-online.com

Do you want students at your university to access these resources?

email Professor Geoff Meyer for details

Online Histology Lectures

View histology lectures presented by Professor Meyer

Learn concepts effectively with short, concise, and easy-to-follow video lectures presented by Professor Meyer. Benefit from integrated quiz questions, 3D anatomy models, multi-lingual captions, and downloadable slides. These lectures and many others on all topics in a Medical/Dental School curriculum are presented by "Lecturio.com".
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Learn from an expert instructor

All resources were created by an award-winning anatomy and histology professor

Professor

Geoffrey Meyer

I am a Professor and Senior Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Human Sciences, at the University of Western Australia (UWA). I have been teaching anatomy (including neuroanatomy) and histology for over 40 years. During that time I have received a number of teaching awards including a UWA Excellence in Innovation in Teaching Award, an International Excellence in Innovation in Teaching, Learning and Technology Award and was an Australian University Teaching Award Winner. I have received a UWA Teaching Fellowship and also awarded a prestigious ALTC (Australian Learning and Teaching Council) Fellowship. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB) and member of the International Federation of National Teaching Fellows (IFNTF). I am the immediate Past-Coordinator for Histology on the Federative International Program for Anatomical Terminologies (FIPAT) of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA).

What students are saying about Meyer's Histology

"Meyer's Histology is definitely one of the top resources available to students in the health sciences."

Max (UCLA Student)

"I was warned by friends that Histology is a tough subject, but Meyer's Histology was organized around a system that made it easy to learn and remember key information. Listening to the audio videos, you can hear how passionate Professor Meyer is about the subject and wants students to succeed. Little by little, squiggly lines and fuzzy dots became structures I could name and identify. The image atlas uses high quality, well labeled photos and gives concise descriptions. Finally, the quizzes help drill key concepts and pinpoint weak spots that need review.

I know 2020 has been difficult for a lot of students this year, but I truly believe that if they had resources like the ones you've put together it would be a much more seamless transition from in person to online classes.

Kimberly (UCLA Student)

All the resources you provided, recorded audio and videos of all basic tissues and human organs as well as the Meyer's Histology Interative Online Atlas website with practice quizzes integrated at the end of each topic, were amazing tools to help me understand the material to be successful in my histology class. The Meyer's Histology resources really helped clarify what the key points for each topic were and it was much easier to retain the information when I could click a highlighted word in the passage and it would show me exactly where it was located on the slide.

Confused about histology? Well here's your solution.

UCLA students

"This site breaks down and explains complex histological images. You will find helpful tips and tricks on how to identify features you never believed you could. This is a must have resource!" Tawny (UCLA) "Professor Meyer’s style of teaching is phenomenal. His teaching method is throwing you fully into the subject so you can really get to experience it. The material may seem difficult at times, but with the online atlas and videos, you are guaranteed to do well in this course!" Thank you so much. Wish you all the best! Stephanie (UCLA) “Incredibly concise and deeply informative, Meyer’s histology is an engaging resource and well organized site. It made a difficult subject easy to understand, and I cannot recommend it enough.” Pranay (UCLA)

Course Curricula

Scroll down and view the curriculum of the video presentations

The Mammalian Cell

It is most important that you understand the basic histological and ultrastructural features of a typical mammalian cell. The cell nucleus and nucleolus and then all cell organelles within the cell cytoplasm are described in this video series; The cytoskeleton and also the cell cycle are summarized.

  • The Cell, The Mammalian Cell - Introduction and Learning Overview, What is a Mammalian Cell? Plasma Membrane, Nucleus, Nucleolus, Cell Cytoplasm, Mitochondria, Ribosomes, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum, Golgi Complex, Lysosomes, Cell Inclusions, Cytoskeleton, Cell Cycle.

Epithelium

Videos on the histology of epithelium covers the histological features listed on the right hand side. Histology slides of epithelium are viewed in these videos.

  • Epithelium - Introduction and Learning Overview, Epithelium (Definition and Classification), Simple Squamous Epithelium, Simple Cuboidal Epithelium, Simple Columnar Epithelium, Simple Columnar Epithelium, The Basement Membrane, Stratified Squamous (Non-Keratinized) and (Keratinized) Epithelium, Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium, Stratified Columnar Epithelium, Pseudostratified Epithelium (with Stereocilia and Cilia), Transitional Epithelium, Special Named Epithelia, Buccal Scrapings, Junctional complexes.

Preparation of Tissue for Microscopic Viewing

View videos covering the Preparation of Tissue for Microscopic Viewing, Resolving Power and Artifacts. Then an extensive description of histological stains or dyes.

  • Preparation of Tissue for Microscopic Viewing, Resolving Power and Artifacts, Histological Stains - Introduction and Learning Overview, Basophilia and Eosinophilia, Hematoxylin and Eosin, Limitations of Using Hematoxylin and Eosin Stains, Silver Stains, Osmium Staining, Reticulin and Elastic Stains, Van Gieson Stain, Periodic Acid Schiff Reagent (PAS), Giesma (Blood) Stain.

Exocrine Glands

View videos describing the histological features of all the exocrine glands e.g. histology or the pancreas.

  • Exocrine Glands - Introduction and Learning Overview, A Unicellular Gland, Classification of Glands, Mucous and Serous Secretory Units, Simple Straight Tubular Glands, Simple Coiled Tubular Glands, Simple Acinar Glands, Simple Branched Acinar Glands, Compound Tubular Glands, Compound Acinar Gland (Pancreas), Compound Acinar Gland (Parotid Gland), Compound Tubuloacinar Gland (Submandibular Gland), Compound Tubuloacinar Gland (Sublingual Gland), Anatomy of the Salivary Glands, Mammary Gland (Non-Lactating and Lactating).

Connective Tissues

Connective tissue is a ubiquitous tissue and these extensive videos introduce you to the more general connective tissues in the human body before then presenting the more specialized connective tissues eg. cartilage and bone in later topics.

  • Connective Tissue - Introduction and Learning Overview, Loose and Dense Irregular Connective Tissue, Elastic Tissue, Masson Stain Distinguishes Collagen and Smooth Muscle, Reticular Fibres, Stroma and Parenchyma, Dense Regular Connective Tissue, Connective Tissue (Whole Mount Spread) for Macrophages and Mast cells, The Macrophage and Fibroblast, Unilocular and Multilocular Adipocytes, A Lamina Propria, Mesenchyme cell, Fibrocyte, Plasma cell.

Cartilage

Each type of cartilage and the differences between the 3 types of cartilage are described in these videos.

  • Cartilage - Introduction and Learning Overview, Hyaline Cartilage - Chondroblasts, Chondrocytes, Lacuna; Elastic Cartilage, Fibrocartilage.

Bone

View video descriptions of what are the most important features of compact and spongy bone - and also, view descriptions of osteogenesis.

  • Bone - Introduction and Learning Overview, Anatomy of a Long Bone, Microscopic Model of Compact Bone, Bone (Decalcified Section), Bone (Ground Section), Osteoprogenitor cell, Osteoblast, Osteocyte, Periosteum, Endosteum, Bone Canaliculi, Osteogenesis, Endochondral Ossification, Intramembranous Ossification, Joints.

Blood and Bone Marrow

Very colourful images and histology sections are viewed in this series of videos describing blood cells and the differentiation of cells in the bone marrow.

  • Blood - Introduction and Learning Overview, Blood Smear, Erythrocyte and Neutrophil, Lymphocyte, Monocyte, Eosinophil, Basophil and Platelet, Bone Marrow - Introduction and Learning Overview, Bone Marrow - Origin and Differentiation Stages of Blood Cells, Bone Marrow Tissue Smear, Erythropoiesis, Erythrocyte, Erythroblast, Thrombopoiesis, Megakaryoblast, Granulopoiesis, Promonocyte, Neutrophilic myelocyte, Eosinphilic myelocyte, Basophilic myelocyte, Neutrophilic granulocyte, Eosinphilic granulocyte, Basophilic granulocyte, Bone Marrow - Histological Section.

Muscle Tissues

Muscle Tissues are described in this series of video presentations. The emphasis is on skeletal (voluntary striated) muscle; cardiac muscle and smooth muscle to revisted in the video series on the "Histology of Human Organs".

  • Muscle Tissue - Introduction and Learning Overview, Organization of Skeletal Muscle, Muscle Spindle, Myotendinous Junction, Muscle Tissue - Skeletal Muscle (Longitudinal Section), The Sarcomere, Muscle Tissue, Skeletal Muscle Fibre Ultrastructure, A Motor Unit, Skeletal Muscle Fibres Types, Cardiac Muscle, Smooth Muscle.

Peripheral Nerve and Ganglia

Descriptions of Peripheral Nerve and Ganglia are presented in this series of videos.

  • Peripheral Nervous System - Introduction and Learning Overview, Peripheral Nervous System - Anatomy, Microanatomy Model of a Peripheral Nerve, Spinal Ganglia, Sympathetic Ganglia, Autonomic Pathways, Parasympathetic Ganglia and Enteric Plexus.

Brain and Spinal Cord

The basic histological features of the brain and spinal cord are described in this series of videos presentations.

  • Brain and Spinal Cord - Introduction and Learning Overview, Spinal Cord, Dorsal and Ventral (and Lateral) Roots, Glial Cells, Nerve Rootlets, Myelinated and Unmyelinated Axons, Optic Tract, Cortexes of the Brain, Cerebellar Cortex, Cerebral Cortex, Ventricles of the Brain, Choroid Plexus.

Cardiovascular System

View these extensive videos of the histological features of the heart and blood vessels - arteries, veins and capillaries..

  • Cardiovascular System - Learning Overview, Heart Wall (Gross Anatomy), Heart Wall (Histology), Contractile Cardiac Muscle Fibres, Conducting Cardiac Muscle Fibres (Gross Anatomy), Conducting Cardiac Muscle Fibres (Histology), Aorta (Introduction), Layers of the Aorta (Elastic Tissue Stained), Layers of the Aorta (H&E Stained), Large Muscular (Distributing) Artery, Small Muscular Artery (e.g. in the Pancreas), Small Muscular Artery (e.g. in the Kidney), Review of the Blood Vessel Wall, Arteriole and Venule (Transverse Section), Arteriole and Venule (Longitudinal Section), Smaller Arteriole and Venule, Capillaries, Valve in Vein, Large Vein (Vena Cava).

Respiratory System

All the tissues and organs comprising the respiratory system are presented in this extensive collection of videos.

  • Respiratory System - Learning Overview, Nasal Cavity, Nasal Concha and Respiratory Tract Epithelium, Olfactory Epithelium, Larynx and Epiglottis, Vocal Folds, Trachea, Extrapulmonary Bronchus, Intrapulmonary Bronchus, Lung (Introduction), Lung Lobule, Lung Acinus (Microanatomy model), Lung Acinus (Histology), Pulmonary Artery and Pulmonary Vein, Alveolar Duct and Interalveolar Septum, Interalveolar Septum (Cell Types), Visceral Pleura.

Endocrine System

The endocrine system is a rather diverse group of tissues and organs and their unique histological characteristic arefully described in these videos.

  • Endocrine System - Learning Overview, Pituitary (Gross Anatomy), Pituitary Gland (Introduction - Histology), Adenohypophysis (Anterior Pituitary), Neurohypophysis (Posterior Pituitary), Pituitary Gland (Pars Nervosa), Pituitary Gland (Pars Distalis and Pars Nervosa (H&E Stain), Thyroid Gland, Parathyroid Gland, Endocrine Pancreas, Adrenal Gland, Adrenal Gland - Layers of the Cortex and Blood Supply, Adrenal Medulla.

Female Reproductive System

Histological characteristics of all the tissues and organs of the female reproductive system are described here with differences during the ovarian and uterine cycle clearly presented.

  • Female Reproductive System - Learning Overview, Female Reproductive System (Gross Anatomy), Ovary ("Germinal" Epithelium, Tunica Albuginea and Primary Follicles), Ovary (Primary and Secondary Oocytes; Theca Interna and Theca Externa), Ovary (Secondary and Pre-Ovulatory Follicle), Ovary (Atretic Follicle; Degenerated Zona Pellucida and Glassy Membrane, Corpus Luteum and Corpus Albicans, Uterine Tube, Uterus (Proliferative and Secretory Endometrium), Cervix and Vagina, Mammary Gland (Non-Lactating and Lactating).

Male Reproductive System

Gain a better understanding of the histological features of all the tissues and organs of the male reproductive sytem in these extensive videos.

  • Male Reproductive System - Learning Overview, Male Reproductive System (Gross Anatomy), Testis and Tunica Albuginea, Seminiferous Tubule (Spermatogenic Cells), Leydig Cell (Interstitial Cell of the Testis), Rete Testis, Epididymis, Spermatic Cord, Prostate, Seminal Vesicle, Penis and Clitoris.

Urinary System

View videos describing the histological features of the kidney and other organs of the urinary system.

  • Urinary System - Learning Overview, Kidney (Anatomy and Blood Supply), Kidney Cortex and Medulla, Renal Corpuscle, Proximal and Distal Convoluted Tubule and Macula Densa, Kidney Lobule, Interlobular Artery and Vein, Afferent and Efferent Arteriole and Vasa Recta, Proximal and Distal Straight Tubules, Collecting Tubules and Loop of Henle, Renal Papilla and Kidney Capsule, Ureter, Urinary Bladder, Female and Male Urethra.

Lymphoid Tissues and Organs

Included in these videos are descriptions of the histological features of lymphoid tissues and the lymphoid organs - Lymph Node, Tonsils, Thymus, Spleen.

  • Lymphatic System - Learning Overview, Lymphatic System (Introduction), Diffuse Lymphatic and a Primary Lymph Nodule, Lymph Node, Palatine Tonsil, Lingual Tonsil, Peyer's Patches, Appendix, Lymphatic Vessels and Lymph Node (Introduction), Lymph Node (Efferent and Afferent Lymphatic Vessels), Lymph Node (Cortex, Paracortex and Medulla), High Endothelial Venules and Reticular Fibres, Bronchial Lymph Node, Thymus (Introduction), Thymus, Spleen (Introduction), Spleen White Pulp, Spleen Red Pulp, Spleen Blood Supply.

Oral Cavity, Tooth and Gingiva; Salivary Glands

Video descriptions of the histology of the oral cavity, tongue, tooth and gingiva are presented in this series as well as the histological characteristics of the salivary glands.

  • Oral Cavity, Tooth and Gingiva - Learning Overview Oral Cavity, Tooth and Gingiva (Introduction), Lip and Labial Gland, Hard Palate, Ground Tooth, Decalcified Tooth, Pulp Cavity and Periodontal Ligament, Gingiva and Peridontium, Parotid Gland, Submandibular Gland, Sublingual Gland, Tongue.

Gastrointestinal Tract

This series of videos provides a detailed description of the histological characteristics of the organs of the alimentary canal.

  • Esophagus and Gastrointestinal Tract - Learning Overview, Layers of the Gut Wall, Gut Mucosa, Esophagus (Introduction) Esophagus, Stomach (Introduction), Stomach (Cardiac and Pyloric Region and Rugae, Stomach (Fundus Region), Small Intestine (Introduction), Lower Duodenum, Plicae Circulares, Submucosa, Muscularis Externa and Myenteric Plexus, Lower Duodenum, Enterocyte, Brush Border, Goblet Cell and Lamina Propria, Lower Duodenum, Mucosa and Crypts including Paneth Cells, Upper Duodenum, Brunner's Glands and Pyloric Sphincter, Crypts of Lieberkuhn and Stem Cell Division, Jejunum and Ileum, Colon, Colon, Recto-Anal Junction.

Liver, Gallbladder and Exocrine Pancreas

Do you need to know about the histology of the liver, gallbladder and exocrine pancreas? View the videos in this series.

  • Liver, Gallbladder and Exocrine Pancreas - Learning Overview Liver, Gallbladder and Exocrine Pancreas (Introduction), Liver, Gallbladder, Exocrine Pancreas (Lobules), Exocrine Pancreas (Intercalated Duct and Centroacinar Cell), Exocrine Pancreas (Secretory Acinus).

The Integumentary System

View descriptions of the histological components of skin.

  • Skin - Learning Overview, Thick Skin, Layers of the Dermis, Sweat Gland, Meissner's and Pacinian Corpuscle, Melanocyte and Antigen Presenting Cell, Thin Skin, Hair Follicle, Sebaceous Gland, Toenail, Ceruminous Gland.

The Eye and Ear

View video descriptions of the major tissues comprising the eye and the ear.

  • Eye - Learning Overview, Eyeball, Retina, Anterior Eye, Cornea, Lens, Optic Tract, Optic Disc; Ear - Learning Overview, Ear (Introduction), Internal Ear (Histology), Crista Ampularis and Cupula, Macula of the Utricle, Organ of Corti, External Ear Canal.