Ch 5 5

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue composed of layers of closely spaced cells that cover organ surfaces, form glands, and serve for protection, secretion, and absorption.

Connective Tissue

Tissue with usually more matrix than cell volume, often specialized to support and protect organs and to bind other tissues and organs to each other.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue containing excitable cells specialized for rapid transmission of coded information to other cells.

Muscular Tissue

Tissue composed of cells that can contract to produce movement.

Histology

The study of tissues and how they are arranged into organs.

Germ Layers

The three primary tissue layers in embryonic development: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Ectoderm

The outer germ layer that gives rise to the epidermis and nervous system.

Mesoderm

The middle germ layer that develops into structures such as muscle and bone.

Endoderm

The inner germ layer that develops into mucous membranes of the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Tissue Matrix

The extracellular material that surrounds cells, composed of fibers and ground substance.

Longitudinal Section

A tissue cut along its longest axis.

Cross Section

A tissue cut perpendicular to its longest axis.

Oblique Section

A tissue cut at an angle between longitudinal and cross sections.

Mesenchyme

Embryonic tissue derived from mesoderm that gives rise to various connective tissues.

Histological Section

A thin, stained slice of tissue mounted on a microscope slide.

Organ

A structure with discrete boundaries made up of two or more tissue types.