Key Histology Features

Instructions: Run your mouse over the histology slide want to view. Key histology features are described. If a link is present, click to view and listen to the histology audioslide.

(1) histology slide of large intestine (2) histology slide of large intestine (3) histology slide of large intestine (4) histology slide of large instestine (high magnification)

Large Intestine

On histology slides (1), (2) and (3), three layers of the large intestine are visible: mucosa, submucosa and muscularis externa. On histology slide (1) and (2), the two distinct layers of muscle on the muscularis externa are visible: the inner circular and an outer longitudinal. Notice that there are no villi here, in contrast to the small intestine. The apical surface is smooth, without finger like projections. There are lots of goblet cells on the mucosa. These are the clear looking hollowed out spaces.