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Just like reading, one has to know which perspective for the letters to make sense.  For example, MOM can look like WOW depending on which perspective!

In histology, the same applies – but now consider tissue presented in both 2- and 3 dimensions.

ATHENA’S WRITING BELOW (FROM AUG 13)

In histology, we are looking at 2D sections of 3D structures. This could pose a challenge for us in the sense that structures that can be graphically depicted in its 3D form while being taught to us in an anatomy class can look very different as a section under the microscope. Through the exercise below, we hope to teach you how to think about 3D structures in 2D planes for every scenario. Of course, it could be helpful to keep a note of common cuts of organs, tissues and cells and how that looks under the microscope, but that should all be in the goal of accumulating experience in learning how to think about cuts and planes in histology as it’s impossible for us to anticipate every possible cut of all the structures in our body.

The most common planes used in cutting tissue are divided into horizontal (a.k.a. transverse, axial), sagittal (a.k.a. longitudinal), and frontal (a.k.a. coronal)

Jen’s writing below

Because a 3D tissue specimen, such as a biopsy,  is prepared and sliced into 2D, hollow structures will appear as a mixture of the pattern illustrated in Figure 1.  When looking at hollow structures, the space within, the lumen, will appear differently based on the plane.

Which way is up?  Basal vs apical