Classification of Tissues – Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering epithelial, connective, nervous, and muscle tissues, their structure, function, and typical locations.

What is the main function of simple cuboidal epithelium?

Secretion and absorption.

Where is simple cuboidal epithelium commonly found?

Kidney tubules, ducts and secretory portions of small glands, ovary surface.

What distinguishes simple columnar epithelium from other epithelia?

A single layer of tall cells with round-to-oval nuclei; may have cilia and mucus-secreting goblet cells.

Give two major functions of simple columnar epithelium.

Absorption and secretion of mucus, enzymes, and other substances; ciliated type propels mucus or reproductive cells.

Name two locations of non-ciliated simple columnar epithelium.

Most of the digestive tract (stomach to rectum) and gallbladder.

Where can you find ciliated simple columnar epithelium?

Small bronchi, uterine tubes, and some regions of the uterus.

What is the hallmark of pseudostratified columnar epithelium?

Single layer of cells of differing heights with nuclei at different levels; may bear cilia and goblet cells.

State the primary function of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium in the respiratory tract.

Secretion and propulsion of mucus by ciliary action.

Which epithelium lines most of the upper respiratory tract?

Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium.

What protective epithelium forms the epidermis of the skin?

Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

List two non-keratinized locations for stratified squamous epithelium.

Esophagus and mouth (also vagina).

What is the main function of stratified cuboidal epithelium?

Protection.

Name one gland that contains stratified cuboidal epithelium in its large ducts.

Sweat glands (also mammary or salivary glands).

Where is stratified columnar epithelium typically found?

Male urethra and large ducts of some glands; it is rare in the body.

Which epithelium permits distension of urinary organs?

Transitional epithelium.

Give two organs lined by transitional epithelium.

Urinary bladder and ureters (also part of urethra).

What are the four main types of adult connective tissue?

Connective tissue proper, cartilage, bone, and blood.

Connective tissue proper divides into which two subclasses?

Loose connective tissues and dense connective tissues.

All connective tissues arise from which embryonic tissue?

Mesenchyme.

Name the three fiber types found in connective tissue.

Collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers.

What are the two components of the extracellular matrix?

Ground substance and fibers.

Which loose connective tissue is considered the prototype model?

Areolar connective tissue.

State two key functions of areolar connective tissue.

Wraps and cushions organs; plays an important role in inflammation.

Where is adipose tissue commonly located?

Under the skin, around kidneys and eyeballs, within abdomen, and in breasts.

What is the primary function of adipose tissue?

Provides reserve fuel, insulates against heat loss, and supports/protects organs.

Describe the function of reticular connective tissue.

Forms a soft internal skeleton (stroma) that supports blood cells, mast cells, and macrophages.

Where is dense regular connective tissue found, and what does it do?

Tendons and most ligaments; attaches muscles to bones or bones to bones and withstands tensile stress in one direction.

Which dense connective tissue withstands tension in many directions?

Dense irregular connective tissue.

Elastic connective tissue is abundant in which major vessel and why?

The aorta; it allows recoil of tissue following stretching to maintain pulsatile blood flow.

What is the most common cartilage type in the body?

Hyaline cartilage.

List two functions of hyaline cartilage.

Supports and reinforces; resilient cushioning and resistance to compression.

Where is elastic cartilage located?

External ear (auricle) and epiglottis.

Which cartilage type possesses thick collagen fibers for shock absorption?

Fibrocartilage.

Give a typical location for fibrocartilage.

Intervertebral discs (also pubic symphysis, menisci of knee).

What are the resident cells of bone tissue called?

Osteocytes.

State three functions of bone (osseous) tissue.

Supports and protects organs, provides levers for muscles, stores minerals/fat and houses marrow for blood formation.

How does the matrix of blood differ from other connective tissues?

It is a fluid plasma instead of a solid or gel-like ground substance.

What two major cell populations compose nervous tissue?

Neurons and neuroglia (supporting cells).

What unique ability distinguishes neurons from other cells?

They generate and conduct electrical signals over long distances.

Where is nervous tissue found?

Brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Describe the cells of skeletal muscle.

Long, cylindrical, multinucleate cells with obvious striations under voluntary control.

What structural feature allows cardiac muscle cells to act as a unit?

Intercalated discs connecting branching, striated, uninucleate cells.

Give the primary function of cardiac muscle.

Propels blood into the circulation through involuntary contractions of the heart.

How do smooth muscle cells appear microscopically?

Spindle-shaped, uninucleate, lacking striations, arranged in sheets.

Where is smooth muscle predominantly located?

Walls of hollow organs such as digestive and urinary tracts, blood vessels, and uterus.

What is the role of mast cells in areolar connective tissue?

Release histamine to increase capillary permeability during inflammation and allergic reactions.