Histology: An Interactive Virtual Microscope recreates the look and feel of a microscope in an intuitive, browser-based
interface. Histology is one of the core courses in the curriculum for medicine and allied health professions. It
requires both an understanding of the cellular structure of organs and tissues and the ability to recognize tissues
at the microscopic level. Traditionally, students have used microscopes to study specimens on glass slides. While
extensive practice with the microscope is not essential in the modern health care setting, histology remains an
image-intensive discipline. To understand the organization and function of tissues requires that students be able
to interpret microscopic images. By presenting nested images at increasing magnification, Histology: An Interactive
Virtual Microscope provides a sense of scale and proportion that cannot be achieved in a standard histology text
or atlas. Moreover, the text descriptions and labeled images offer flexibility (students can study at any computer)
and opportunities for small-group learning (several students can examine the images together), yet provide guidance
for independent study.