Epithelial Tissue & Blood Tissue Encounter

Histology is a subject that particularly grasps my attention because I have been exposed to tissues much more than I realized. This summer I aimed to be as productive as I can, so I decided to take microbiology and also a phlebotomy technician course to become a certified phlebotomist. I now have become much more aware that I have been encountering histology all summer. In microbiology we studied a chapter on the immune system and the different lymphocytes that play a role in protecting us from different microorganisms that invade the body. Lymphocytes are cells of the blood tissue, which we have started to study in class recently. It’s amazing to talk about lymphocytes from two different perspectives and see why they are needed immensely in our bodies. In microbiology we didn’t analyze all the components of the blood as we are doing so now, so it’s nice to have that introduction of a couple white blood cells from classes like microbiology and immunology.

            As I took the phlebotomy course, we also covered chapters on the blood and cardiovascular system. When studying the cardiovascular system we focused special attention to the target veins which are used for venipuncture. It’s amazing to now connect these same veins with the type of tissues they are composed of. The lining of veins is made up of simple squamous epithelial cells, which function as a barrier. They are also filled with deoxygenated blood tissue which is making its way to the heart. As we did out practical portion of the class, we performed venipuncture on each other in the class. As we punctured the vein, I am now more aware that we were breaking the layer of simple squamous epithelial cells. Once the needle was able to make its way through this layer of epithelium, the blood was encountered. When you precisely puncture the vein, blood will fill the tube you have inserted in the tube holder. Those tubes were filled with red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. I was encountered with cells even further when the SST tube was centrifuged for chemistry testing. This technique separated the blood into serum at the stop and blood cells at the bottom.

            I am continually amazed by how much I encounter Histology. Without the knowledge of histology one might just see the blood in the test tubes and not think any further. However, because of the knowledge I have attained, performing venipuncture and seeing the blood tubes is now an experience where I think about all the tissue and the cells that are composed of. I’m sure there are much more occasions I have been exposed to tissues, but this summer microbiology and phlebotomy take the win.