Spinal cord (thoracic)                              Chart

                                 
Cell types: Neuron, oligodendrocyte, astrocyte, microglia, ependymal cell
 

Differential diagnosis:
 Other nervous tissues such as the peripheral nerve have holes (circles) which are characteristic and the cerebral cortex does not have H-shaped grey matter with a central canal. This is the main distinguishing feature of the spinal cord.

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Diagnostic Features:
a. Tissue is compact (e.g. liver) and there is no lumen visible. It consist mainly of neuronal cells with prominent axons (nerve fibers).
b. Darkly stained H-shaped central structure which is the grey matter. Also visible are the central canal placed centrally and the posterior, ventral and lateral horns of the grey matter.
c. Thoracic region has large white matter but spinal cord relatively small.

Draw your own section here and make your diagnosis by data base selection below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Database selection: Practical Tissue Gross

Level 1: Select  compact
Level 2: Select nervous tissue from list of sclerous, muscular, connective, organ-glands and nervous tissues since there is heterogenous collection of cells and fibers.
Level 3: Select spinal cord in view of the H-shaped grey matter
White matter is large in the spinal cord but spinal cord itself is small.

Note the shape of the various horns of the grey matter in the cervical region.

 

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