Part 4 Muscle Tissues, Nervous Tissue, Tissue Repair, and Body Membranes

Vocabulary flashcards covering cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, nervous tissue, tissue repair stages, and body membrane classifications from the lecture slides.

Cardiac muscle

Tissue characterized by short, branching cells with a single nucleus and striations that interlock at intercalated discs; it is involuntary and found only in the heart.

Intercalated discs

Structures that connect cardiac muscle cells, containing desmosomes and gap junctions.

Desmosomes

Strong junctions located within the intercalated discs of cardiac muscle.

Gap junctions

Junctions within intercalated discs that allow rapid transmission of electrical signals.

Smooth muscle

Tissue consisting of long, non-striated (smooth), involuntary cells tapered at both ends (spindle appearance) that line hollow internal organs such as the digestive system, blood vessels, and uterus.

Neurons

Nerve cells

Neuroglia

Supporting cells that insulate and protect neurons.

Irritability

The property of nervous tissue involved in receiving or distributing electrical signals (stimuli) in response to changes in the environment.

Inflammation

The phase of tissue repair where inflammatory chemicals are released, white blood cells seep into the injured area, and clotting caused by clotting and plasma proteins forms a scab.

Granulation

The phase of tissue repair in which granulation tissue restores the vascular supply while epithelial cells multiply and fill in over it.

Regeneration/Fibrosis

The final stage of tissue repair where the restored epithelium thickens, and the area matures and contracts over an underlying area of scar tissue.

Body Membranes

Structures that cover surfaces, line body cavities, and form protective and lubricating sheets around organs.

Cutaneous membrane

The skin; an epithelial membrane exposed to air whose outer surface is dry.

Mucous membrane

Also known as mucosa; an epithelial membrane composed of epithelium with an underlying loose connective tissue layer that lines body cavities open to the exterior, maintains a moist surface, and often secretes mucus.