Cheek Cell Exp. and Osmosis Discussion

Cheek Cells Under the Microscope
Requirements, Preparation and Staining
Cheek cells are eukaryotic cells (cells that contain a nucleus and other organelles
within enclosed in a membrane) that are easily shed from the mouth lining. It is
therefore easy to obtain them for observation.
Some of the main parts of a cell include:
1. Cell membrane (outer boundary of the cell)
2. Cytoplasm (the fluid within the cell)
3. Nucleus (at the center of the cell and controls cell functions)
4. Organelles (e.g. mitochondria-Organelles are cell structures with specific functions)
Using biological stains such as methylene blue, it is possible to clearly observe and
differentiate the different parts of a cell. This is because the stain will color some parts
of the cell and not others, allowing them to be clearly observed.
Requirements
 Sterile cotton swab

 Clean, sterile microscope slides
 Microscope cover slips
 Methylene Blue solution (0.5% to 1%)
 Dropper
 Blotting paper/Tissue paper
 Microscope
How to Prepare a Wet Mount of Cheek Cells
Before starting, it is always important to ensure that the working surface is

clean and that you are wearing a pair of clean gloves to avoid contamination.
Cheek cells can be easily obtained by gently scraping the inside of the mouth
using a clean, sterile cotton swab.
Once the cells have been obtained, the following procedure is used for cheek cell wet
mount preparation:
1. place a drop of physiological saline on a clean microscopic slide (central part of

the slide)
2. smear the cotton swab on to the center (part containing the saline drop) of the
clean slide for about 4 seconds to get the cells on to the center of the slide
3. add a drop of methylene blue solution on to the smear and gently place a cover
slip on top (to cover the stain and the cells)
4. any excess solution can be removed by touching one side of the slide with a
paper towel or blotting paper.
5. place the slide on the microscope for observation using 4 x or 10 x objective to
find the cells
6. once the cells have been found, they can then be viewed at higher magnificatio
* Note- Used cotton swabs and cotton towel should be safely discarded in the trash
and not left lying on the working table.
cheek cells stained with methylene blue by Joseph

Elsbernd at https://www.flickr.com/photos/codonaug/6936088980/in/photostream/
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Why do we have to Stain the Cells?
The cell has different parts, and those that can absorb stains or dyes are
referred to as chromatic. Having absorbed the stain, these parts of the cell
become more visible under the microscope and can therefore be easily
distinguished from other parts of the same cell.
Without stains, cells would appear to be almost transparent, making it difficult

to differentiate its parts.
Methylene blue has a string affinity for both DNA and RNA. When it comes in
contact with the two, a darker stain is produced and can be viewed under the
microscope.
The nucleus at the central part of the cheek cell contains DNA. When a drop of
methylene blue is introduced, the nucleus is stained, which makes it stand out
and be clearly seen under the microscope.
Although the entire cell appears light blue in color, the nucleus at the central
part of the cell is much darker, which allows it to be identified.
Observation
On mounting the wet slide, the following will be observed:
 Large irregularly shaped cells with distinct cell walls.

 A distinct nucleus at the central part of each individual cell (dark blue in color).
 A lightly stained cytoplasm in each cell.
Conclusion
This is an easy and fun experiment that will show kids the basic structure of a cell and
its major parts. For easy identification of the parts, the parent or teacher can first show
the kids some samples of the cells in advance.This will help them identify different parts
with ease.
Once this has been achieved, kids can move on to the next stage of learning the
functions of these different parts.
** Find prepared microscope slides and equipment to correctly perform microscope

experiments.
OSMOSIS
Isotonic, Hypotonic & Hypertonic IV Fluid Solution NCLEX Review

Notes
Isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions are widely used in the healthcare
setting and as a nurse you must know how each of the solutions work on the body and
why they are given.
In nursing school and on the NCLEX exam, you will be required to know what type of
IV fluids are considered isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic. In this article, I give you an
easy overview of each solution and how they work on the cellular level.
In addition, I have an isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic quiz you can take to test your
knowledge on this content.
Video Teaching Tutorial on Isotonic, Hypotonic & Hypertonic

Solutions
Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more teaching tutorials.
Isotonic, Hypotonic, & Hypertonic Fluids for Nursing Students

First, let’s get familiar with the cell and how tonicity works through osmosis.
The cell is divided into two parts: (intracellular & extracellular). Each part is made up
of a solution and depending on the tonicity of the fluid you can having shifting of fluids
from outside of the cell to the inside via osmosis.
The cell loves to be in an isotonic state and when something happens to make it
unequal (like with hypotonic or hypertonic conditions) it will use osmosis to try to equal it
out.
Osmosis allows molecules of the solvent to pass through a semipermeable membrane
from a less concentrated solution to a higher concentrated solution. The key thing
to remember here is that everything will move from a LOW concentration to
a HIGH concentration.
Remember when we are talking about isotonic and hypo/hypertonic we are talking
about how it looks outside of the cell compared to inside.
Easy Overview of Isotonic, Hypotonic, & Hypertonic Solutions
Isotonic
Iso: same/equal
Tonic: concentration of a solution
The cell has the same concentration on the inside and outside which in normal
conditions the cell’s intracellular and extracellular are both isotonic.
It is important to be familiar with what fluids are isotonic and when they are given.
Isotonic fluids
 0.9% Saline
 5% dextrose in water (D5W)**also used as a hypotonic solution after it is administered
because the body absorbs the dextrose BUT it is considered isotonic)
 5% Dextrose in 0.225% saline (D5W1/4NS)
 Lactated Ringer’s
Isotonic solutions are used: to increase the EXTRACELLULAR fluid volume due
to blood loss, surgery, dehydration, fluid loss that has been loss extracellularly.
Hypotonic
Hypo: ”under/beneath”
The cell has a low amount of solute extracellularly and it wants to shift inside the cell to
get everything back to normal via osmosis. This will cause CELL SWELLING which can
cause the cell to burst or lyses.
Hypotonic solutions
 0.45% Saline (1/2 NS)

 0.225% Saline (1/4 NS)
 0.33% saline (1/3 NS)
Hypotonic solutions are used when the cell is dehydrated and fluids need to be put back
intracellularly. This happens when patients develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or
hyperosmolar hyperglycemia.
Important: Watch out for depleting the circulatory system of fluid since you are trying to
push extracellular fluid into the cell to re-hydrate it. Never give hypotonic solutions to
patient who are at risk for increased cranial pressure (can cause fluid to shift to brain
tissue), extensive burns, trauma (already hypovolemic) etc. because you can deplete
their fluid volume.
Hypertonic
Hyper: excessive
The cell has an excessive amount of solute extracellularly and osmosis is causing water
to rush out of the cell intracellularly to the extracellular area which will cause the CELL
TO SHRINK.
Hypertonic solutions
 3% Saline
 5% Saline
 10% Dextrose in Water (D10W)
 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Saline
 5% Dextrose in 0.45% saline
 5% Dextrose in Lactated Ringer’s
When hypertonic solutions are used (very cautiously….most likely to be given in the ICU
due to quickly arising side effects of pulmonary edema/fluid over load). In addition, it is
prefered to give hypertonic solutions via a central line due to the hypertonic solution
being vesicant on the veins and the risk of infiltration.

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Cheek Cells Under the Microscope

Requirements, Preparation and Staining

Some of the main parts of a cell include:

1. Cell membrane (outer boundary of the cell)

2. Cytoplasm (the fluid within the cell)

4. Organelles (e.g. mitochondria-Organelles are cell structures with specific functions)

 Sterile cotton swab

Before starting, it is always important to ensure that the working surface is

1. place a drop of physiological saline on a clean microscopic slide (central part of

cheek cells stained with methylene blue by Joseph

Without stains, cells would appear to be almost transparent, making it difficult

On mounting the wet slide, the following will be observed:

 Large irregularly shaped cells with distinct cell walls.

** Find prepared microscope slides and equipment to correctly perform microscope

Isotonic, Hypotonic & Hypertonic IV Fluid Solution NCLEX Review

Video Teaching Tutorial on Isotonic, Hypotonic & Hypertonic

Isotonic, Hypotonic, & Hypertonic Fluids for Nursing Students

Easy Overview of Isotonic, Hypotonic, & Hypertonic Solutions

Tonic: concentration of a solution

Tonic: concentration of a solution

 0.45% Saline (1/2 NS)

Tonic: concentration of a solution

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