Cytology, Embryology, and Histology Review

A single parseable JSON array containing vocabulary-style flashcards based on lecture notes covering Cytology, Embryology, Histology of tissues, Blood, Cardiovascular, Endocrine, and Digestive systems.

Mitochondria

Organelles responsible for intense aerobic energy accumulation in the form of macroergic ATP bonds in muscle tissue.

Neurons

Adult cells in which mitosis is not observed throughout life and quantitative DNA content remains constant.

Prophase

The phase of a cell cycle where the nucleolus and nuclear envelope are absent, chromosomes are freely located, and centrioles migrate to the poles.

Barr's body (Sex Chromatin)

Structures found in the nuclei of cells obtained by amniocentesis that indicate the development of a female fetus.

Differentiation

The process by which an embryo acquires morphological, biochemical, and functional features as a result of genome expression.

Cortical layer

The layer of the plasma membrane involved in changing a cell's shape after chemical factors occur.

Centrioles

Cell structures whose destruction violates the cell's ability to divide.

Granular endoplasmic reticulum

The organelle connected with defects in the synthesis of the ceruloplasmin protein in hepatolenticular degeneration.

Passive diffusion

The mechanism responsible for transporting lipophilic preparations like nitrous oxide through biological membranes.

Lysosomes

Roundish bubbles confined by a membrane containing various hydrolytic enzymes for intracellular digestion and protective functions.

Blastocyst

The type of blastula characteristic for humans; an embryo stage found in the uterus cavity before attachment to the endometrium.

Acrosome

A sheath-like structure in the spermatozoon spermiocalyptrotheca containing proteolytic enzymes for dissolving the zona pellucida.

Teratogenic effect

The effect caused by drugs or viruses during pregnancy that results in congenital defects such as a cleft lip or palate.

Capacitation

A process essential for fertilization that occurs in the sperm within the female reproductive tract.

Epiblast and Hypoblast

The first two intraembryonic germ layers to differentiate during the second week of development.

Hensen's node

An embryonic structure whose underdevelopment slows down the growth of the axial organ called the chord.

Sclerotome

The part of the somite that gives rise to the axial skeleton.

Gastrulation

The period of embryogenesis occurring simultaneously with implantation where germinal layers are formed.

Apoptosis

The biological mechanism of programmed cell death that provides growth of the buccolabial sulcus from the epithelial plate.

Placenta

A provisory organ that establishes a physiological bond between the circulatory systems of the mother and the fetus.

Chorionic gonadotropin

A hormone detected in a woman's blood on the third or fourth day of implantation used for early pregnancy detection.

Mesothelium

Simple squamous epithelium that lines the abdominal cavity.

Nexus (Gap junction)

Intercellular contacts that provide the transport of ions and low-molecular substances between cells.

Basement membrane

The structure located between epithelial tissue and connective tissue, often shaped like a three-dimensional reticulum.

T-killers

Main effector cells that take part in the immunological rejection response after organ transplantation.

Eosinophilic granulocytes

Blood cells characterized by segmented nuclei (2-3 segments) and large bright-pink oxyphil granules, often increased in allergies or helminthosis.

Megakaryocytes

Giant cells in the red bone marrow that form blood plates (platelets) via dynamic cell projections.

Erythropoiesis

A type of hemopoiesis characterized by a gradual decrease in cytoplasmic basophilia, an increase in oxyphilia, and the expulsion of the nucleus.

Reticular cells

Stellate cells with oxyphilic cytoplasm found in the red bone marrow that are connected by cellular processes.

Mucous connective tissue

A specialized connective tissue also known as Wharton's jelly.

Mast cells

Connective tissue cells that produce histamine and heparin, playing a leading role in clinical displays of allergy.

Chondroblast

The cell type that produces the cartilaginous matrix.

Hyaline cartilage

The most abundant type of cartilage, characterized by a glassy matrix and found on articular surfaces and costal cartilages.

Osteoblast

An immature bone cell that produces alkaline phosphatase and synthesizes the intercellular substance of bone.

Osteon

The cylindrical structural unit of compact bone.

Osteoclasts

Large multinucleated cells containing numerous lysosomes that are activated during bone tissue loss in osteoporosis.

Accidental thymus involution

A phenomenon in the thymus stimulated by infection or intoxication, characterized by mass death of thymocytes and proliferation of epithelioreticulocytes.

Spleen

A hematopoietic organ containing white pulp with lymph nodules that have a central artery.

Myosatellitocytes

Elements of skeletal muscle fibers that take part in its reparative regeneration.

Sarcomere

The structural unit of myofibril in striated muscles situated between two nearby Z-lines; the H-area disappears during its maximal contraction.

Muscular artery

A vessel type characterized by pronounced internal and external elastic membranes and many smooth muscle cells in the tunica media.

Sinusoid

Intralobular capillaries, such as those in the liver, with wide irregular lumens and mostly absent basal membranes.

Purkinje's fibers

Heart cells in the shape of pale chords with few myofibrilla, glycogen inclusions, and eccentric nuclei responsible for impulse conduction.

Papillary layer

The layer of the dermis that determines the individuality of fingerprints (dactylography).

Melanocytes

Dendritic cells in the epidermis containing dark brown granules (melanosomes) and a well-developed Golgi complex.

Pseudounipolar neurons

Sensory neurocytes found in spinal ganglions with one process that divides into an axon and a dendrite.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells specifically targeted in conditions like disseminated (multiple) sclerosis where myelination of nerve fibers is violated.

Cerebellar cortex

An organ of the nervous system consisting of three layers: molecular, ganglionic (containing piriform Purkinje cells), and granular.

Surfactant

A component of the blood-air barrier produced by Type II alveolocytes that reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse.

Parietal exocrine cells

Gastric gland cells responsible for the secretion of hydrochloric acid and gastromucoproteid.

Paneth cells

Cells located at the base of intestinal crypts containing large acidophilic secretory granules that synthesize dipeptidases.

Space of Disse

The hepatic perisinusoidal space directly contacted by hepatocytes.

Podocyte

A large epithelial cell with processes that anchor to the three-layered basal membrane of capillaries in the kidney glomeruli.

Juxtaglomerular cells

Secretory cells in the kidney's afferent arteriole that produce renin to regulate blood pressure.

Leydig cells

Polygonal cells situated in the loose connective tissue between seminiferous tubules that produce testosterone.

Corpus luteum (Yellow body)

A spherical structure in the ovary composed of large glandular cells containing lutein that produces progesterone.

Enamel spindles

Optically dense linear spindle-shaped structures on the dentino-enamel border.

Odontoblasts

Cylindrical cells in the peripheral layer of the pulp that synthesize dentin via radial (Von Korff’s) and tangential (Ebner's) fibers.