Electron Microscopy/ Imaging

Electron Microscopy is an imaging technique that uses a focused beam of electrons and the light properties of that electron stream to magnify tissue images. Electron microscopy can magnify much more than light microscopes.
Imaging is capturing what you see in the microscope on film or in digital format.

Lung Anatomy

-Gross Anatomy

Picture of respiratory tract

Microanatomy

Bronchiole- Medium magnification

Within the lung are bronchioles of varying sizes. At this magnification one can appreciate the lack of hyaline cartilage in the muscular wall. It is distinguished from the bronchi from which they arise by: 1) lack of cartilage and glands and 2) simpler (lower) ciliated epithelium with diminishing numbers of goblet cells.

Alveolar Macrophages (Dust Cells)

Alveolar macrophages clean the alveoli of particulate matter and are seen filled with debris. These cells can be found on the lining of the alveolus, in the alveolar wall, in the lymphatic channels draining the lung and in the lymph nodes.

Alveolar Duct- Medium magnification
On the right edge of the image is a portion of a respiratory bronchiole with its simple cuboidal epithelium leading into an alveolar duct, which is an open channel bounded on all sides by alveoli. Smooth muscle continues in the wall of the alveolar duct. The alveolar duct is leading into two alveolar sacs (one is shown), a collection of alveoli.