Tissue and heart lab
Examine histology slides under the microscope and observe gross heart anatomy following an SOP.
Lab notebook pages: four histology sketches (one per tissue type, magnification labeled, one feature identified), a labeled heart diagram with chambers, valves, and major vessels, and one limitation and one error source noted.
- 1Do thisExamine histology slides under the microscope and observe gross heart anatomy following an SOP.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisLab report: Lab notebook pages: four histology sketches (one per tissue type, magnification labeled, one feature identified), a labeled heart diagram with chambers, valves, and major vessels, and one limitation and one error source noted.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Principles of Biomedical Technology (Principles of Biomedical Science) › Unit 1.2 Master the Morgue: Body systems, toxicology evidence, tissue microscopy, gross anatomy, preserved-heart/autopsy alternative. › Lab reportOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Histology bridges the microscopic world of cells to the macroscopic world of organs, giving pathologists the evidence to determine cause of death.
- 0:00Review SOP for microscopy and heart examination; PPE check before anyone opens specimen containers
- 0:10Microscopy station: four prepared histology slides; identify and sketch each at 40x and 100x
- 0:40Heart anatomy station: examine preserved heart; locate and label four chambers, four valves, major vessels
- 1:05Record one limitation of slide-based identification and one error source in lab notebook
- 1:05Station cleanup per SOP: cover specimens, return slides to tray, clean microscope stage
- 1:10Preview Thursday analysis; brief debrief on what surprised students
- • Today is the first major hands-on lab of this unit. You are going to look at real tissue under a real microscope and examine a preserved heart.
- • Before you touch the microscope: read the SOP. Set your stage at the lowest magnification first, focus, then increase. Skipping this step cracks slides.
- • The preserved heart is in fixative. The fixative keeps it from decomposing, but it is a chemical and you will wear gloves and work in a ventilated area. The smell is formaldehyde or a formalin substitute. Do not put your face near the specimen container.
- • You are scientists today. Every sketch goes in the notebook with magnification labeled. Every heart structure you identify gets labeled on a diagram. This is your evidence.
- 1Read the microscopy SOP and set magnification and focus correctly.
- 2Identify epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue on slides.
- 3Sketch each tissue with magnification and one identifying feature labeled.
- 4Examine a preserved heart and locate chambers, valves, and vessels.
- 5Record one limitation of slide-based identification and one error source.
- • I can identify the four tissue types under magnification.
- • I can locate the major structures of the heart.
- • Magnification must always be recorded with a microscopy sketch because the apparent size of a structure is meaningless without it.
- • The heart has four chambers (right/left atria and ventricles), four valves (tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral, aortic), and its wall is primarily cardiac muscle tissue.
- • Preserved specimens have altered texture, color, and smell compared to fresh tissue; fixative chemicals require PPE and ventilation.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 1.2 Master the Morgue: Body systems, toxicology evidence, tissue microscopy, gross anatomy, preserved-heart/autopsy alternative. · Tissue and heart lab
Day 3 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: In myPLTW, open the Lesson 1.2 Master the Morgue lab activity and record your slide observations and heart-anatomy labels.
Mark the Lesson 1.2 lab observation task started in myPLTW.
You took notes on tissue types Tuesday. Today all four tissue sketches and the heart-anatomy diagram should be in your notebook before cleanup.
Notebook page with four labeled histology sketches (magnification noted) and a labeled heart diagram submitted through the tracker.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 1.2 Master the Morgue: Body systems, toxicology evidence, tissue microscopy, gross anatomy, preserved-heart/autopsy alternative. · Tissue and heart lab
In myPLTW, open the Lesson 1.2 Master the Morgue lab activity and record your slide observations and heart-anatomy labels.
You took notes on tissue types Tuesday. Today all four tissue sketches and the heart-anatomy diagram should be in your notebook before cleanup.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Examine histology slides under the microscope and observe gross heart anatomy following an SOP.
- Read the microscopy SOP and set magnification and focus correctly.
- Identify epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue on slides.
- Sketch each tissue with magnification and one identifying feature labeled.
- Examine a preserved heart and locate chambers, valves, and vessels.
- Record one limitation of slide-based identification and one error source.
Lab report: Lab notebook pages: four histology sketches (one per tissue type, magnification labeled, one feature identified), a labeled heart diagram with chambers, valves, and major vessels, and one limitation and one error source noted.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the microscopy SOP and set magnification and focus correctly. | _______ |
| Identify epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue on slides. | _______ |
| Sketch each tissue with magnification and one identifying feature labeled. | _______ |
| Examine a preserved heart and locate chambers, valves, and vessels. | _______ |
| Record one limitation of slide-based identification and one error source. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- I can identify the four tissue types under magnification.
- I can locate the major structures of the heart.
Resources & readings
Hand-picked materials for this lesson. Class file items open the document directly; the rest are vetted readings and interactives from other biomedical programs.
Lab & supplies
- • Preserved specimens contain fixative chemicals (formaldehyde or formalin substitute): wear nitrile gloves and goggles at all times at the heart station; work in a well-ventilated area.
- • Do not inhale deeply over an open specimen container; if you feel lightheaded or notice strong fume odor, move away and notify the teacher.
- • Histology slides are glass: handle by the edges only; place cracked or broken slides in the designated sharps container immediately.
- • Never touch the microscope lens with anything other than lens paper; do not use paper towels or your clothing to clean optics.
- • After the heart examination, seal the specimen tray, remove gloves using the glove-to-glove technique, and wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- • Dispose of all gloves, paper towels, and disposable materials used at the heart station in the labeled biological-waste bag, not the regular trash.
This unit's vocabulary
Tap the speaker to hear a term. Weekly vocabulary task: add two of these terms to your notebook glossary with a definition and an example in your own words.
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Use the virtual histology and heart-anatomy resources to identify all four tissue types and label heart structures, submitting sketches with magnification noted.
learn.genetics Inside a CellThen submit your Lab report on Schoology.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
Khan Academy: human body systems (Health and medicine)- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Thu, Sep 17, 2026 · Tissue and heart lab here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project