Tissues

Simple cuboidal ET

Structure: single layer about as tall as wide, cube cells with centrally located nucleus.

Function: absorption and secretion.

Location: sweat glands, kidney tubules.

Simple Columnar ET

Structure: single layer of tall, narrow column shaped cells.

Oval shaped nucleus oriented lengthwise in the basal region.

Apical surface has microvilli.

May contain goblet cells.

Function: absorption and secretion.

Locations: lining of the stomach, small intestines, and gallbladder.

Simple Columnar ET with goblet cells and microvilli

Structure: single layer of tall, narrow, ciliated cells.

Oval shaped nucleus oriented lengthwise in the basal region.

Goblet cells present.

Function: secretion of mucin and movement of mucus along the apical surface.

Location: lining of uterine tubes and larger bronchioles of respiratory tract.

Psuedostratified Ciliated Columnar ET with goblet cells

Structure: single layer of cells with varying heights that appear multilayered.

All cells connect with the basement membrane.

Nuclei not in a line.

Ciliated has goblet cells and cilia.

Function: protection and ciliated are involved in secretion and movement of mucus.

Location: ciliated = airways like the trachea and nasal cavity.

Nonciliated = sperm ducts and epidermis

Non-keratinized Stratified Squamous ET

Structure: multiple layers of cells.

Basal cells cuboidal or polyhedral.

Apical cells squamous. Surface cell layer alive.

Location: vagina lining, mouth, esophagus, anus canal.

Transitional ET

Structure: Stratified cuboidal ET but does not stay.

Apical layer can change shape due to stretching.

Looks cuboidal = not stretched.

Looks squamous = stretched

Function: distension and relaxation to accommodate urine volume changes in the urinary bladder, urethra, and ureters.

Location: lining of the urinary bladder, ureters, and part of the urethra.

Glandular ET - Exocrine

Function: Secrete using a duct to a free surface.

Location: skin, stomach, sweat glands.

Areolar CT

Structure: Contains all 3 fiber types. Contains all cell types. Abundant vascularized GS is gel like. Scattered fibroblasts. Many blood vessels.

Function: connect tissues together. Acts as a glue to bind tissues together. Provides metabolic support, especially to ET.

Location: surrounding nerves, vessels, and subcutaneous layer.

Adipose CT

Structure: fat tissue. Contains adipocytes. Most of central space is fat.

Not many organelles.

Nucleus is pushed to the side.

Not much ECM.

Location: Found underneath skin.

Function: protection, provides energy, cushion, insulation.

Location: subcutaneous layer, surrounding kidneys and selected organs.

Reticular CT

Structure: mesh work of reticular fibers.

Function: support cells in soft organs. Forms stoma of lymphatic organs.

Location: soft organs: spleen, liver, lymph nodes, bone marrow.

Dense regular CT

Structure: densely packed collagen fibers parallel to direction of stress.

Function: strength and flexibility in one direction. Connects muscle to bone and bone to bone.

Location: tendons and ligaments.

Dense irregular CT

Structure: densely packed interwoven collagen fibers. Irregularly clumped together and project in all directions.

Function: tensile strength in all directions.

Location: dermis of skin, capsules of organs.

Hyaline cartilage

Structure: glossy appearing matrix. Lacunae house chondrocytes. Usually covered in perichondrium.

Function: smooth surfaces for movement at joints. Model for bone growth. Supports soft tissue.

Location: covers articular ends of long bones, most of fetal skeleton, costal cartilage: most of larynx, trachea, and nose.

Elastic cartilage

Structure: contains abundant elastic fibers. Elastic fibers form weblike mesh around lacunae. Perichondrium present.

Function: maintains structure and shape while permitting extensive flexibility.

Location: external ear, epiglottis

Fibrocartilage

Structure: easily visible, parallel collagen fibers in matrix. Lacunae house chondrocytes. No perichondrium.

Function: resists compression. Absorbs shock in some joints.

Location: intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, menisci of knee joints.

Compact bone

Structure: dense and solid. Organized into columns. Appears solid but is perforated by vascular canals. Calcified matrix arranged in osteons (concentric lamellae arranged around a central canal containing blood vessels)

Function: supports soft structures, protects vital organs, provides levers for movement, stores calcium and phosphorus.

Location: outer layer of bones.

Plasma cells

Structure: small cells with a distinct nucleus derived from activated B-lymphocytes.

Function: form antibodies that bind to foreign substances, bacteria, and viruses.

Location: lymphatic organs, respiratory tract, salivary glands