Instructions: For each histology question, pick the one best answer. This histology test bank is also useful for the histology questions on the USMLE (USMLE step 1).
1.
Which of the four basic tissue types does blood belong to?
a. Epithelium
b. Connective tissue
c. Muscle
d. Nervous tissue
Blood is considered a type of connective tissue. There are four basic tissue types: epithelium, connective tissue, muscle, and nervous tissue. Connective tissue is the most diverse.
2.
Which of the following formed elements do not contain a nucleus?
a. Platelets
b. Erythrocytes
c. Leukocytes
d. Monocytes
e. Both a and b
Erythrocytes do not contain a nucleus. During development in the bone marrow, erythrocytes eject their nucleus before entering the bloodstream.
Platelets are also anucleate cell fragments originating from megakaryocytes. Leukocytes, including monocytes, contain a nucleus.
3.
What comes from a megakaryocyte?
a. Lymphocytes
b. Basophils
c. Erythrocytes
d. Monocytes
e. Platelets
Platelets are fragments of megakaryocytes within the bone marrow.
Histology hint from Sarah Bellham: The prefix "mega" derives from Greek "megas," meaning great or big. For example: megaphone, megabyte, megakaryocyte.
4.
In a healthy adult, which leukocyte is the most abundant in a peripheral smear of blood?
a. Lymphocytes
b. Basophils
c. Neutrophils
d. Monocytes
e. Eosinophils
In a healthy adult, neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes (white blood cells) in peripheral blood. The order of frequency from most to least abundant is: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils.
Histology hint: The order can be remembered with the mnemonic "Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas."
5.
Which of the following are not granulocytes?
a. Lymphocytes
b. Neutrophils
c. PMNs
d. Eosinophils
e. Basophils
The granulocytes contain visible cytoplasmic granules: neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. "PMN" stands for polymorphonuclear neutrophil and is a granulocyte.
Agranulocytes include lymphocytes and monocytes.
Histology hint: "Poly" comes from Greek "polys," meaning many, sometimes used as a nickname for polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
6.
Which of the following is a granulocyte?
a. Thrombocyte
b. Lymphocyte
c. Eosinophil
d. Monocyte
e. Erythrocyte
The granulocytes consist of neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. Agranulocytes include lymphocytes and monocytes. An erythrocyte is a red blood cell, and a thrombocyte is a platelet.
Histology hint: The suffix "-phil" comes from Greek, meaning "love," indicating affinity for a substance. Eosinophils "love" eosin dye; basophils "love" basophilic dye; neutrophils "love" neutral dye. This explains their granule staining properties.
7.
Which of the following is NOT a term used for a neutrophil?
a. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils
b. Polys
c. PMN
d. NP
e. Polymorph
Neutrophils are granulocytes with multi-lobed nuclei connected by chromatin strands. They are also called polymorphonuclear neutrophils, polys, PMNs, or polymorphs.
8.
Which leukocyte has a multi-lobed nucleus typically consisting of 3–5 lobes?
a. Neutrophil
b. Lymphocyte
c. Monocyte
d. Eosinophil
e. Basophil
Neutrophils are granulocytes with a multi-lobed nucleus connected by chromatin strands. Lymphocytes are agranulocytes and categorized as small, medium, or large. Monocytes are agranulocytes and the largest leukocyte. Eosinophils have prominent orange-pink granules, usually bi-lobed. Basophils have large blue granules that can obscure the nucleus.
9.
Which cell has large blue granules, often obscuring the nucleus?
a. Neutrophil
b. Lymphocytes
c. Monocytes
d. Eosinophil
e. Basophils
Neutrophils are multi-lobed granulocytes. Lymphocytes are small, medium, or large agranulocytes. Monocytes are the largest agranulocytes. Eosinophils have orange-pink granules, usually bi-lobed. Basophils have large blue granules that can obscure the nucleus.
10.
Which of the following is not considered a "formed element"?
a. Plasma
b. Erythrocytes
c. Platelets
d. Leukocytes
e. Red blood cells
Blood is composed of plasma (the liquid portion) and the formed elements, which consist of cells and cell fragments. Erythrocytes, platelets, and leukocytes are all considered formed elements.
If you see an error, please contact me, Sarah Bellham, at Sarah-AT-histology-world.com (replace "-AT-" with @) and let me know.
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