Analyze histology evidence
Interpret tissue and heart observations with a CER and evaluate identification limits.
CER arguing what tissue damage could indicate as a cause of death, using Wednesday's microscopy observations as evidence and referencing a comparison to normal histology in the reasoning.
- 1Do thisInterpret tissue and heart observations with a CER and evaluate identification limits.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: CER arguing what tissue damage could indicate as a cause of death, using Wednesday's microscopy observations as evidence and referencing a comparison to normal histology in the reasoning.
- 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. › CEROpen Schoology
Read to prepare for today
Vetted sources picked for today's question. Skim these before you take a position or start the work, so your argument and evidence are grounded.
- 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: Histological evidence requires comparison to normal reference tissue; a pathologist identifies disease by recognizing what is absent or distorted.
- 0:00Return Wednesday lab notebooks; display reference histology images for all four tissue types
- 0:10Guided comparison: walk through one tissue type together, identifying normal vs. abnormal features
- 0:22Students compare their four sketches to references; annotate differences directly on their notebook sketches
- 0:38Heart-pathology connection: for one heart structure, research and note one associated pathology (e.g., valve thickening, chamber enlargement)
- 0:52CER writing: claim about what tissue damage could indicate cause of death, evidence from comparison, reasoning from pathology connection
- 1:05List two slide-interpretation variables and one limitation of microscopy alone; preview Friday submission
- • Yesterday you looked at slides and sketched what you saw. Today you figure out what it means. That requires a reference, something to compare your observation to.
- • A pathologist does not just look at a slide and announce what is wrong. They compare every structure to what it should look like in a healthy sample. When something is thicker, thinner, misshapen, or missing, that is the finding.
- • We are going to do the same thing. You will compare your Wednesday sketches to reference histology images and ask: does this tissue look normal? If not, what could have caused the deviation?
- • Your CER today is your forensic argument. What does the tissue evidence suggest about how this person might have died? You will also connect one heart structure to a possible pathology.
- 1Compare your tissue sketches to reference histology images.
- 2Write a CER: what tissue damage could indicate cause of death?
- 3Relate one heart structure to a possible pathology.
- 4Identify two variables that affect slide interpretation.
- 5State one limitation of microscopy for determining cause of death.
- • I can interpret histology against references.
- • I can connect anatomy to possible pathology.
- • Comparison to reference images is required because tissue appearance varies between individuals; diagnosis is based on deviation from normal, not on a single observation.
- • Two variables that affect slide interpretation are the quality of the staining (how well the dye bound to structures) and the thickness and angle of the tissue section.
- • Microscopy alone cannot determine cause of death; it must be combined with gross anatomy, clinical history, and toxicology for a complete forensic picture.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 1.2 Master the Morgue: Body systems, toxicology evidence, tissue microscopy, gross anatomy, preserved-heart/autopsy alternative. · Analyze histology evidence
Day 4 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: In myPLTW, complete the Lesson 1.2 Master the Morgue histology-analysis reflection.
Mark the Lesson 1.2 histology-analysis reflection complete in myPLTW.
You examined slides and the heart Wednesday. By the end of today your CER and reference comparison annotations should both be done.
Annotated notebook sketches with reference comparisons and a completed CER.
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. · Analyze histology evidence
In myPLTW, complete the Lesson 1.2 Master the Morgue histology-analysis reflection.
You examined slides and the heart Wednesday. By the end of today your CER and reference comparison annotations should both be done.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Interpret tissue and heart observations with a CER and evaluate identification limits.
- Compare your tissue sketches to reference histology images.
- Write a CER: what tissue damage could indicate cause of death?
- Relate one heart structure to a possible pathology.
- Identify two variables that affect slide interpretation.
- State one limitation of microscopy for determining cause of death.
CER: CER arguing what tissue damage could indicate as a cause of death, using Wednesday's microscopy observations as evidence and referencing a comparison to normal histology in the reasoning.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Compare your tissue sketches to reference histology images. | _______ |
| Write a CER: what tissue damage could indicate cause of death? | _______ |
| Relate one heart structure to a possible pathology. | _______ |
| Identify two variables that affect slide interpretation. | _______ |
| State one limitation of microscopy for determining cause of death. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- I can interpret histology against references.
- I can connect anatomy to possible pathology.
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
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
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your CER.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
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 Fri, Sep 18, 2026 · Analyze histology evidence here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project