Download Examination of Cheek Cells (Human Epithelial Cells) Under A

Examination of Cheek Cells (Human Epithelial Cells) Under A Compound
Microscope and Analysis of Plant and Animal Cells
Prepare a Wet-Mount Slide of your own Cheek cells (Human Epithelial Cells):
1. Place a drop of water on your slide using the water bottle at your station.
2. Using a toothpick carefully tickle the inside of your cheek and gently stir the water on your
slide with the end of the toothpick used.
3. Place a drop of Methylene blue stain on the slide containing your cheek cells and with the
same toothpick gently stir.
4. Place a cover slip on the slide.
5. Observe your specimen under Scanning, Low, and High Power.
6. Draw your specimen under Scanning, Low, and High Power. Use 6 lines of your paper for
each drawing and record the magnification of each. Title each drawing Stained Cheek Cells.
7. Label structures visible under High Power. These structures should include the cell
membrane, nucleus, nuclear membrane and cytoplasm.
Note: Complete Steps #6 & #7 in your Composition Notebook.
Analysis Questions (Answer on a separate sheet of notebook paper to be collected):
1. Describe the shape of your cheek/epithelial cells. How does the shape of a cheek/epithelial cell
differ from that of an Anacharis cell observed in the previous lab? Explain.
2. Describe the appearance of the cytoplasm of a cheek/epithelial cell.
3. How do you think cheek/epithelial cells look when they are lining the inside of your mouth?
Make a drawing.
4. Based on what you observed, what structures do human epithelial cells have in common with
Anacharis cells?
5. Based on what you observed, what structures are present in Anacharis cells but not in human
epithelial cells?
6. Some epithelial cells are folded or wrinkled. What does this tell you about the thickness of the
cells?
7. Chloroplasts cannot move on their own. How do you think they move around the cell?
8. What does Lugol’s iodine stain do to the activity of the cell? Hint: Think about the conditions
that the cell is placed in. Is this the cell’s normal environment?