#path love

Hepatosteatosis - the fancy way of saying “fatty accumulation in the liver”. Steatosis can occur after only a single night of drinking! Alcohol causes an increase in fat (lipid) production in hepatocytes because of the way it interacts with metabolism. The fat builds up into lipid droplets, which are washed away in the process of making histology slides, and appear as little swiss cheese holes under the microscope. Steatosis eventually clears up on its own after alcohol consumption has stopped, so don’t worry if you have a few drinks each week - your liver is probably just fine!

A really cool example of mucus sitting inside goblet cells and glands in the colon! Mucus is composed primarily of mucin, a protein-sugar molecule (glycosylated protein) which easily grabs onto and holds water molecules. Mucin allows gel formation, which gives mucus it’s protective function. The gel traps pathogens and prevents mechanical (physical) damage to the wall of the GI tract. Pretty, right?