What is histology in biology?

Histology is the study of microscopic anatomy in which we study the structure of cells and tissues; therefore, it is also called microanatomy. In histology, advanced techniques are used to observe, analyze and identify the tissue and its structure. Microscopy used in this respect is light microscopy and electron microscopy.

The basic procedure in histology is as follows:

Staining is a simple process that starts with washing the material with it so that stain gets stuck to certain parts of the cell, such as DNA. Then stains are washed away with water, and extra stains are removed, but parts like DNA still have those stains. This allows us to visualize the inner structure of a cell.

Sectioning of the tissue is another technique to observe the cells and tissue. In this technique, prior stained material is sectioned with the help of a sharp knife. These stained and sectioned materials can then be analyzed under a light microscope. With the discovery of the electron microscope, there has been a significant advancement in histology. The freeze-fracture technique has been developed and clubbed with the electron microscope to have a better internal structure of cells and tissues.