Survey of Human Tissues

Vocabulary flashcards covering epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue concepts from Chapter 4.

Epithelial Tissue

Primary tissues that act as coverings of the body and organs and serve as the inner linings of organs, primarily functioning in protection, absorption, diffusion, and secretion.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flattened cells with prominent central nuclei that functions in the passage of materials via diffusion and absorption/exchange, with limited secretion and limited protection.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A thick membrane composed of mostly cuboidal cells that become squamous as they reach the top layer, functioning to protect underlying tissues in areas subjected to abrasion.

Stratum Corneum

The apical (top) layer of stratified squamous epithelium.

Stratum Basale

The bottom or deep layer of stratified squamous epithelium.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A single layer of cells that are as wide as they are tall with large central nuclei, functioning in secretion and absorption/exchange/diffusion.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of cells taller than wide with a large nucleus, often containing microvilli or goblet cells, functioning in absorption/exchange and secretion of mucus and enzymes.

Microvilli

Hair-like structures located at the apical surface of simple columnar epithelium that help increase surface area for absorption.

Goblet Cells

Mucous-secreting cells found in simple columnar and pseudostratified columnar epithelium.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of cells of differing heights with nuclei at different levels giving a false appearance of multiple layers, featuring cilia and goblet cells to function in mucus secretion and protection.

Cilia

Hair structures located on the apical surface of pseudostratified columnar epithelium.

Transitional Epithelium

Multiple layers of cells with no clearly defined shape and a bumpy apical surface, functioning to compress when filled and stretch and recoil back to original form.

Connective Tissue

Primary tissues specialized in binding and support, protection, storage and insulation, and transportation.

Areolar Connective Tissue

A loose connective tissue with a gel-like matrix, fibroblasts, collagen fibers, and elastic fibers that supports overlying epithelial tissue and underlying muscular tissue.

Fibroblasts

Connective tissue cells that produce matrix material and fibers such as collagen and elastic fibers.

Collagen Fibers

Fibers in connective tissue that provide tensile strength and withstand pulling forces.

Elastic Fibers

Fibers in connective tissue that allow tissues to stretch and recoil.

Adipose Connective Tissue

Loose connective tissue with sparse, closely packed cells containing a large fat droplet that pushes the nucleus to the side, providing protection, insulation, and long-term energy storage.

Reticular Connective Tissue

Loose connective tissue containing thick reticular fibers and open space that handles stress in multiple directions, located in blood-regulating organs like the spleen, liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and kidney.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Dense connective tissue (also known as white fibrous connective tissue) composed of parallel wavy collagen fibers that withstand pulling forces in one direction, found in tendons and ligaments.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Dense connective tissue with collagen fibers running in every direction with little open space, functioning to withstand pulling forces applied in multiple directions.

Elastic Connective Tissue

Dense connective tissue primarily composed of parallel wavy elastic fibers that withstand pulling forces in one direction, located between vertebrae.

Hyaline Cartilage Connective Tissue

Supportive connective tissue produced by chondrocytes in lacunae with an amorphous, firm matrix of clear collagen fibers that resembles Swiss cheese.

Chondrocytes

Cartilage cells that reside within lacunae and produce the cartilage matrix.

Lacunae

Small cavities or spaces within cartilage or bone matrix that house chondrocytes or osteocytes.

Elastic Cartilage Connective Tissue

Supportive connective tissue produced by chondrocytes in lacunae containing obvious elastic fibers, providing flexibility and support in the epiglottis and ears.

Osseous Connective Tissue

Supportive connective tissue, commonly known as bone, produced by osteocytes in lacunae with a hard, calcified matrix containing collagen fibers.

Osteocytes

Bone cells residing in lacunae that produce and maintain osseous connective tissue matrix.

Blood Connective Tissue

Liquid connective tissue composed of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets within a fluid matrix (plasma) that transports gases, nutrients, and wastes.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells found in blood connective tissue.

Leukocytes

White blood cells found in blood connective tissue.

Platelets

Cellular components in blood connective tissue that function alongside red and white blood cells in fluid plasma.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary muscle tissue consisting of long, cylindrical, multinucleate, parallel cells with obvious striations.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue consisting of spindle-shaped cells with central nuclei and no striations arranged in sheets, located in walls of hollow organs.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary muscle tissue consisting of branching, striated cells connected by intercalated discs, located in the walls of the heart.

Intercalated Discs

Specialized microscopic structures connecting neighboring cardiac muscle cells that serve as a key identification feature.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue composed of branching cells (neurons) located in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that transmit electrical signals to muscles and glands.

Soma

The central cell body region of a neuron housing the nucleus.

Axon

A cord-like process of a neuron that carries electrical signals away from the cell body.

Dendrite

A neuronal process that receives electrical signals from other neurons.

Axon Terminal

Also called a synaptic terminal, the structure that transmits electrical impulses from an axon to neighboring dendrites or cells.