Lymph node

🩺 Before you name anything

Let's take a deep breath and start from the basics. At low power, look for the overall architecture. You should see a clear division into cortex and medulla, which is a hallmark of lymph nodes. The cortex will have densely packed lymphoid follicles, while the medulla appears more open with cords and sinuses. Avoid the mistake of jumping straight to high power and getting lost in the details. Instead, focus on identifying the subcapsular sinus just beneath the capsule. This is your key feature. Once you've settled on the lymph node, you can confidently move to higher magnification to explore the finer details. Remember, it's about recognising the pattern first, then confirming with specific features. This approach will help you avoid confusion with other lymphoid tissues.