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Histology and cell biology medical question bank

Practise every histology and cell biology topic with explained SBAs.

Recall Engine has 850+ histology and cell biology questions across 30+ topics in 10+ body systems. Every question explains each option.

questions
850+
topics
30+
topic notes
30+
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Histology and cell biology by body system

Histology and cell biology has 30+ topics in 10+ body systems. Each section shows how many questions it has and every topic it covers.

Cardiovascular

10+ questions across 1 topic. It also has 1 topic note.

  • Blood vessel and lymphatic histology

Respiratory

10+ questions across 1 topic. It also has 1 topic note.

  • Trachea and lung histology

Gastrointestinal and liver

80+ questions across 3 topics. It also has 3 topic notes.

  • Gastrointestinal histology and tumours
  • Histology of the liver, gall bladder, and pancreas
  • Liver and gall bladder: histology and pathology

Endocrine and metabolic

60+ questions across 1 topic. It also has 1 topic note.

  • Pituitary and adrenal histology

Reproductive and breast

150+ questions across 5 topics. It also has 5 topic notes.

  • Breast histology: development and lactation
  • Female reproductive tract and breast histology
  • Female reproductive tract histology
  • Male reproductive tract histology
  • Ovary, fallopian tube, and uterus histology

Nervous system

60+ questions across 2 topics. It also has 2 topic notes.

  • Glial cells
  • Histology of the nervous system

Musculoskeletal

100+ questions across 5 topics. It also has 5 topic notes.

  • Bone histology
  • Cartilage and bone histology
  • Cartilage and endochondral ossification
  • Skeletal muscle histology
  • Skeletal muscle: histology and dystrophy

Skin

20+ questions across 1 topic. It also has 1 topic note.

  • Skin histology: layers and appendages

Infection and immunity

50+ questions across 2 topics. It also has 2 topic notes.

  • Lymphoid tissue histology
  • Organs and tissues of the immune system

General principles

200+ questions across 9 topics. It also has 9 topic notes.

  • Cell structure, organelles, and renewal
  • Connective tissue, extracellular matrix, and types of epithelia
  • Connective tissue: cells, fibres, and types
  • Epithelial tissue: layers, surfaces, and function
  • Extracellular matrix and connective tissue
  • Histology of muscle and blood vessels
  • Introduction to histology
  • Stem cells and haematopoiesis
  • Tissue processing, microscopy, and special stains

Histology and cell biology sample questions

These 3 are published histology and cell biology questions shown exactly as students see them. Open an answer to see why it is right and why every other option is wrong.

Question 1 · Histology and cell biology, Preclinical

A fat sample contains very large cells with one dominant lipid droplet displacing the nucleus toward the edge. Which cell pattern best matches the specimen?

  1. A. Plasma cell
  2. B. White adipocyte
  3. C. Brown adipocyte
  4. D. Fibroblast
  5. E. Macrophage
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. White adipocyte

A single dominant lipid droplet and peripheral nucleus are characteristic of a white adipocyte, which is specialized for energy storage.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Plasma cell: An eccentric nucleus alone does not override the dominant lipid droplet.
  • C. Brown adipocyte: Brown adipocytes usually have multiple lipid droplets rather than one dominant droplet.
  • D. Fibroblast: The section does not show the elongated matrix-producing morphology of a fibroblast.
  • E. Macrophage: The main feature is lipid storage, not ingested debris in phagocytic vesicles.

Key point: Distinguish unilocular white fat from multilocular brown fat.

References

Question 2 · Histology and cell biology, Preclinical

A 29-year-old woman who stopped breastfeeding 2 months ago notices a soft, mobile 2-cm lump in her right breast. She has no fever and the skin is normal. Ultrasound shows a cystic lesion, and needle aspiration draws off thick white fluid that looks like milk, after which the lump disappears. Which is the most likely diagnosis?

  1. A. Lactating adenoma
  2. B. Fibroadenoma
  3. C. Simple breast cyst
  4. D. Galactocele
  5. E. Lactational abscess
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D. Galactocele

A cystic lump around the end of lactation that yields milky fluid and collapses on aspiration is a galactocele, a retention cyst from a blocked lactiferous duct. Most resolve without surgery.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Lactating adenoma: A lactating adenoma is a solid mass of secretory lobules, so no fluid would be aspirated.
  • B. Fibroadenoma: A fibroadenoma is a solid, rubbery lump that yields no fluid and does not vanish on aspiration.
  • C. Simple breast cyst: Simple cysts usually yield clear or straw-coloured fluid, and they peak around the menopause.
  • E. Lactational abscess: An abscess gives fever, redness, and pus on aspiration, not painless milky fluid.

Key point: A galactocele is a milk retention cyst from lactiferous duct occlusion, usually near the end of lactation; aspiration yields milky fluid and most resolve without further treatment.

References

Question 3 · Histology and cell biology, Preclinical

Two biopsies are compared in a histology class: one from the skin of the forearm and one from the lining of the cheek. Both show many layers of epithelial cells on a basement membrane, with cuboidal basal cells and flattened cells towards the free surface. The students are asked for the feature that separates the forearm epithelium from the cheek lining. Which feature is present in the forearm skin but absent from the cheek lining?

  1. A. Flattened squamous cells at the free surface
  2. B. Dividing basal cells resting on a basement membrane
  3. C. Cilia projecting from the surface cells
  4. D. A dry superficial layer of keratin-filled cells
  5. E. Several layers of cells above the basement membrane
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D. A dry superficial layer of keratin-filled cells

Both biopsies are stratified squamous epithelium: many layers, a basal layer on a basement membrane, and flattened surface cells. The epidermis is keratinized, adding a dry superficial layer of keratin-filled cells, whereas the cheek lining is non-keratinized and stays moist. Only the keratin layer distinguishes them.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Flattened squamous cells at the free surface: Flattened surface cells occur in both keratinized and non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, as both biopsies show.
  • B. Dividing basal cells resting on a basement membrane: Both stratified squamous epithelia renew from a basal layer on a basement membrane; this is a shared feature.
  • C. Cilia projecting from the surface cells: Neither epidermis nor cheek lining carries cilia; cilia belong to respiratory epithelium.
  • E. Several layers of cells above the basement membrane: Both biopsies are stratified, so multiple layers are shared and cannot separate them.

Key point: Keratinized and non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelia share many layers, a basal layer, and flattened surface cells; only keratinized epithelium, as in the epidermis, adds a dry superficial layer of keratin-filled cells.

References

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