Histology, also known as microscopic anatomy, deals with the study of cells as they are constituted in the various tissue types. Single cells, isolated from the fabric of tissue, are generally difficult to classify. However, when cells are examined in their normal configuration and relationship to neighboring cells, the tissues formed by those cells are readily identified. A microscope is required because cells are microscopic and so too are the identifying characteristics of tissues.

While the body is structured of a bewildering array of organs, the number of tissue types is limited. Tissue types include epithelium, connective tissue, muscle, nervous tissue, blood and reproductive tissue. These categories include more than one type of tissue. For instance, connective tissue encompasses bone, cartilage, tendons, ligament, and fibrous connective tissue. Another example: the catagory muscle includes skeletal, cardiac and smooth.

The term microscopic anatomy is descriptive in that it indicates that...