Tissues and Integumentary Study Guide Chapters 6-7

Flashcards based on Chapters 6-7 lecture notes covering Tissues and the Integumentary system, including tissue classification, membranes, skin layers, glands, thermoregulation, and associated terminology.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissues characterized by tightly packed sheets with little matrix; they are avascular and function to cover, line, protect, absorb, and secrete.

Connective Tissue

The most abundant and diverse tissue type, consisting of cells scattered in an abundant intercellular matrix; it binds, supports, protects, stores, and transports.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue composed of elongated contractile cells used for movement and heat production.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue consisting of neurons and supporting glia used for rapid electrical communication.

Intercellular Matrix

The signature of connective tissue which may be liquid (blood), flexible (cartilage), or hard (bone).

Neuron

An excitable cell involved in nervous tissue that conducts an action potential.

Glia

Cells that support, protect, nourish, and insulate neurons; examples include astrocytes and ependymal cells.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated, voluntary muscle that moves bones and is a major source of shivering heat.

Cardiac Muscle

Striated, involuntary muscle located only in the heart.

Smooth Muscle

Non-striated, involuntary muscle found in the walls of hollow organs and vessels.

Simple Epithelium

An epithelial arrangement consisting of one layer of cells, used for thin surfaces involving diffusion, filtration, and absorption.

Stratified Epithelium

An epithelial arrangement consisting of many layers of cells, providing thickness for protection.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

A single layer of cells that appears layered because nuclei are at different heights; often ciliated.

Squamous Cells

Flat, scale-like cells resembling tiles on a floor.

Cuboidal Cells

Cube-shaped cells involved in secretion and absorption; found in glands and tubules.

Columnar Cells

Tall cells involved in absorption and secretion.

Transitional Epithelium

Epithelial cells that change shape as tissue stretches; specifically found in the urinary bladder.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Tissue found in alveoli and other thin exchange surfaces used for the rapid diffusion of $O_2$ and $CO_2$.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Protective surfaces exposed to friction; the epidermis is a keratinized version of this tissue.

Avascular

A term meaning an epithelium has no blood vessels of its own and must receive nutrients by diffusion from underlying connective tissue.

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands that secrete hormones into interstitial fluid or blood, such as the thyroid and pituitary glands.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that possess ducts and release secretions onto a surface or into a cavity, such as sweat, oil, and salivary glands.

Areolar Tissue

A type of connective tissue with loose fibers in a gel-like matrix used for packing and support beneath epithelia.

Adipose Tissue

Tissue containing adipocytes with stored fat for energy storage, insulation, and cushioning/anchoring of organs like the kidneys.

Dense Fibrous Tissue

Tough supportive tissue with parallel or irregular collagen bundles found in tendons, ligaments, and fascia.

Hyaline Cartilage

Connective tissue with chondrocytes in a smooth, firm matrix found in tracheal rings, rib-sternum connections, and joint surfaces.

Osseous Tissue

Bone tissue consisting of osteocytes in a mineralized matrix; noted as the hardest connective-tissue matrix.

Blood

Connective tissue consisting of formed elements in a liquid intercellular matrix called plasma.

Ligament

A connective tissue structure that connects bone to bone.

Tendon

A connective tissue structure that connects muscle to bone.

Fascia

A tough supportive connective-tissue sheet that surrounds or binds structures.

Chondrocyte

A mature cartilage cell.

Osteocyte

A mature bone cell.

Regeneration

A repair process where damaged tissue is replaced by the same tissue type, restoring normal function.

Fibrosis

A repair process where damaged tissue is replaced by fibrous connective tissue, resulting in the formation of a scar.

Serous Membrane

Membranes lining closed ventral cavities; includes a parietal layer lining the cavity wall and a visceral layer covering the organ.

Mucous Membrane

Membranes lining cavities that open to the exterior, including the mouth, digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive passages.

Synovial Membrane

Connective-tissue membranes in freely movable joints that secrete lubricating synovial fluid.

Cutaneous Membrane

Another name for the body surface or skin.

Meninges

Connective-tissue membranes covering the brain and spinal cord within the cranial and vertebral cavities.

Pleura

The serous membrane associated with the lungs; includes visceral and parietal layers.

Pericardium

The serous membrane associated with the heart, located in the mediastinum of the thoracic cavity.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane associated with the abdominopelvic cavity and its organs.

Epidermis

The outer avascular barrier composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium; contains the stratum germinativum and stratum corneum.

Dermis

The vascular connective tissue layer that supports the epidermis and contains vessels, receptors, follicles, and glands.

Hypodermis

Also known as the subcutaneous layer; composed mostly of areolar and adipose tissue to anchor, cushion, and insulate.

Stratum Germinativum

Also called the stratum basale; the deepest epidermal layer that is mitotically active and pushes new cells toward the surface.

Stratum Corneum

The outermost epidermal layer consisting of dead, flattened, keratinized cells.

Keratin

A tough protein that hardens epidermal cells and makes the skin surface water resistant.

Dander and Dandruff

Shed dead skin cells from the skin surface.

Eccrine Sweat Gland

Widespread glands used for everyday cooling by evaporation and temperature regulation.

Apocrine Sweat Gland

Glands in the axillary and genital areas that produce a thicker secretion into hair follicles and become active after puberty.

Sebaceous Gland

An oil gland that secretes sebum; a blocked gland can form a blackhead or pimple.

Ceruminous Gland

Modified sweat glands in the external ear that produce cerumen, or earwax.

Mammary Gland

A modified sweat gland that produces milk.

Arrector Pili

A muscle that contracts and raises hair to produce goosebumps.

Melanin

A brown-black pigment from melanocytes that increases with UV exposure.

Carotene

A yellow-orange pigment stored in the skin and fat.

Cyanosis

A bluish skin color resulting from oxygen-poor blood or hypoxemia.

Jaundice

Yellowing of the skin caused by elevated bilirubin levels.

Erythema

Also known as flushing; occurs when dermal blood vessels dilate, bringing more warm, oxygenated blood to the surface.

Vitamin D

A substance produced by the skin that is needed for calcium absorption.

Alopecia

A medical term for hair loss.

Radiation

A thermoregulation mechanism involving infrared heat transfer without direct contact.

Conduction

Heat transfer by direct contact, such as a cooling blanket touching the skin.

Convection

Heat transfer carried by moving air or water, such as a fan or breeze.

Evaporation

The process where liquid water becomes vapor and removes heat; occurs when sweat evaporates from skin.

Brown Adipose Tissue

A specialized tissue that produces heat by nonshivering thermogenesis, notably in fetuses and neonates.

Pyrogens

Substances that can reset the hypothalamic thermostat upward, causing a fever.

Core Temperature

Estimated by rectal temperature; distinct from the variable outer shell temperature of the skin.