Microscopic Anatomy: Histology Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from the Biology 2300 Histology lecture slides, covering epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue types and structures.

Histology

The study of tissues examining how groups of specialized cells and their products function for a common purpose.

Cell

The smallest living structure in the body.

Tissue

A collection of similar cells serving a specific function.

Organ

A structure containing two or more tissue types that work together to perform specific functions.

Light Microscope

An instrument that produces a two-dimensional image by passing light through a stained specimen.

Elastic Fibers

Thin, dark-staining protein fibers present within the extracellular matrix that provide stretchability.

Collagen Fibers

Thick, light-staining protein fibers within the extracellular matrix that offer structural strength.

Ground Substance

The non-cellular material of the extracellular matrix that surrounds cells and protein fibers.

Epithelial Tissue

A primary tissue type that covers body surfaces, lines body cavities, forms glands, is avascular, and consists of tightly packed cells.

Apical Surface

The exposed or free top layer/surface of epithelial tissue.

Basal Surface

The attached bottom layer of epithelial cells resting on the basement membrane.

Simple Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of two or more layers of cells.

Squamous Cell

A flat epithelial cell that is wider than tall, containing a flat oval-shaped nucleus.

Cuboidal Cell

A cube-shaped epithelial cell with equal length, width, and height, containing a central round nucleus.

Columnar Cell

A tall epithelial cell that is taller than wide, containing a tall oval-shaped nucleus.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flat cells with flat oval-shaped nuclei that functions in diffusion and filtration, located in blood vessels.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A single layer of cube-shaped cells with round nuclei that functions in absorption and secretion, commonly surrounding lumens in kidney tubules.

Lumen

The open space inside of a tube-shaped biological structure.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of tall cells with oval nuclei, microvilli, and goblet cells, located in the digestive tract for absorption and secretion.

Goblet Cells

Specialized epithelial cells that produce mucin.

Microvilli

Microscopic projections on the apical surface of simple columnar epithelial cells forming a 'brush border' to increase absorption surface area.

Non-keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A multi-layered epithelium with flat apical cells and visible nuclei at every layer, functioning in protection within the oral cavity and esophagus.

Keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A multi-layered epithelium with flat apical cells lacking nuclei at the apical layer, providing protection in the epidermis of skin.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

A protective epithelium located in the trachea where nuclei appear stratified, all cells touch the basal surface, and the apical surface features cilia and goblet cells.

Cilia

Motile structures located on the apical surface of pseudostratified epithelium that move substances along the tissue surface.

Transitional Epithelium

A specialized epithelium located in the ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra that undergoes distension and relaxation to accommodate urine volume.

Umbrella Cells

Large, rounded apical cells characteristic of transitional epithelium.

Connective Tissue

A primary tissue type that underlies, supports, and connects other tissues, composed of cells, protein fibers, and ground substance.

Mesenchyme

The common embryonic origin tissue from which all connective tissues derive.

Areolar Loose Connective Tissue

A loose connective tissue proper containing fibroblasts, elastic fibers, collagen fibers, and ground substance, located in the papillary layer of the dermis to bind and protect.

Adipose Connective Tissue

A loose connective tissue proper consisting of adipocytes with peripheral nuclei, located in the hypodermis to store energy, protect, cushion, and insulates.

Adipocyte

A lipid-storing cell of adipose tissue with a cell membrane and nucleus pushed along the edge.

Reticular Connective Tissue

A loose connective tissue proper composed of reticular fibers, fibroblasts, and leukocytes, located in lymph nodes to form a structural framework.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

A dense connective tissue proper containing fibroblasts and parallel collagen fibers with scarce ground substance, located in tendons and ligaments to resist stress in one direction.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

A dense connective tissue proper containing fibroblasts and randomly arranged collagen fibers in clumps, located in the reticular layer of the dermis to resist stress in multiple directions.

Elastic Connective Tissue

A dense connective tissue proper composed of fibroblasts and prominent elastic fibers, located in the aorta and trachea to permit stretching.

Hyaline Cartilage

A supporting connective tissue with chondrocytes in lacunae and a glassy matrix, providing smooth joint surfaces and a model for bone growth.

Chondrocyte

A mature cartilage cell housed within a lacuna.

Lacunae

Small cavities or spaces within cartilage and bone matrix that contain chondrocytes or osteocytes.

Fibrocartilage

A supporting connective tissue with parallel collagen fibers and chondrocytes in lacunae, located in intervertebral discs and pubic symphysis to resist compression and absorb shock.

Elastic Cartilage

A supporting connective tissue filled with elastic fibers and chondrocytes in lacunae, located in the epiglottis to maintain structure while permitting flexibility.

Compact Bone

A solid supporting connective tissue forming the outer portion of bones, organized into structural osteons with osteocytes, lamellae, and central canals.

Osteon

The microscopic structural unit of compact bone.

Spongy Bone

A supporting connective tissue located inside bones, lacking osteons and featuring irregular plates called trabeculae and marrow cavities for hematopoiesis.

Trabeculae

Fine, irregular plates of bone forming the structural meshwork in spongy bone.

Blood

A fluid connective tissue contained within blood vessels consisting of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes in plasma.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport in fluid connective tissue.

Leukocytes

White blood cells involved in immune response within fluid connective tissue.

Thrombocytes

Platelets involved in blood clotting.

Muscle Tissue

A primary tissue type containing contractile cells specialized for movement, categorized into skeletal, cardiac, and smooth types.

Skeletal Muscle Tissue

A voluntary muscle tissue consisting of long, cylindrical fibers with multiple peripheral nuclei and striations, located in named muscles and voluntary sphincters.

Cardiac Muscle Tissue

An involuntary muscle tissue located in the heart wall, composed of short, branched, striated cells joined by intercalated discs.

Intercalated Discs

Specialized dark-staining junctions connecting individual cells in cardiac muscle tissue.

Smooth Muscle Tissue

An involuntary, non-striated muscle tissue composed of short, spindle-shaped (fusiform) cells located in the walls of hollow internal organs.

Nervous Tissue

A primary communicative tissue located in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that receives, transmits, and integrates information.

Neuron

The primary nerve cell responsible for transmitting electrical impulses across the body, consisting of dendrites, a soma (cell body), an axon hillock, and an axon.

Neuroglial Cells

Non-neuronal supporting cells present in nervous tissue.