Histology’s Nomenclature: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Histology’s nomenclature has grown and changed since tissues were first conceived and identified grossly, sectioned, and observed microscopically. But this nomenclature has been dominated by static views of adult tissues and has not incorporated insights acquired through modern techniques for preparing and examining tissues and contemporary theories of tissue dynamics (e.g., stem cells). Hopefully, incorporating dynamics into tissue nomenclature will illuminate tissues’ relationships to each other and their evolution, and alter concepts of tissues’ mechanisms of development, maintenance, and pathology.