Tissues Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering epithelial, connective, muscle, and nerve tissues, body movements, and related cell structures based on the study guide.

Tissue

A group of cells with similar structure and function.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue found on outer surfaces as coverings or inner surfaces as linings, and which forms glands.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that connects, supports, transports, or stores materials and forms the framework of all parts of the body.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue that contracts and produces movement of parts of the body.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue that generates and transmits impulses.

Simple Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of many layers of cells.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of a single layer of cells that appears to be stratified.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flat cells that are very thin and smooth; found in the alveoli of lungs for gas diffusion and in capillaries to permit material exchange and prevent abnormal blood clotting.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Tissue consisting of many layers of mostly flat cells (with rounded lower cells undergoing mitosis) that acts as a barrier to pathogens, found in the epidermis and lining of the esophagus and vagina.

Transitional Epithelium

A type of stratified epithelium in which surface cells change shape from round to squamous, permitting expansion without tearing in the lining of the urinary bladder.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A single layer of cube-shaped cells found in the thyroid gland and salivary glands.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

One layer of column-shaped cells specialized for secretion and absorption, lining the stomach and small intestine.

Ciliated Epithelium

One layer of columnar cells with cilia on their free surfaces, lining the trachea and fallopian tubes.

Gland

Cells or organs specialized to produce a substance that has a function either at that site or is sent to other parts of the body.

Goblet Cells

Unicellular glands found in the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts that secrete mucus.

Exocrine Glands

Multicellular glands that have ducts to take secretions away to the site of their function.

Endocrine Glands

Ductless multicellular glands that secrete hormones directly into capillaries to be circulated throughout the body.

Matrix

Non-living intercellular material located between cells in connective tissue, containing varying amounts of water, fiber, and hard materials.

Plasma

The liquid matrix of blood tissue that functions to transport materials throughout the body.

Erythrocytes (RBCs)

Red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body.

Leukocytes (WBCs)

White blood cells that function to destroy pathogens; also found in matrix of loose connective tissue where they are capable of self-locomotion.

Platelets

Blood components that function to prevent blood loss.

Areolar Connective Tissue

The most common type of loose connective tissue in the body, consisting of fibroblasts, collagen and elastin fibers, and fluid matrix; located subcutaneously and in mucous membranes.

Fibroblasts

Cells of areolar connective tissue that produce matrix protein fibers, specifically collagen fibers and elastin fibers.

Adipose Tissue

Soft connective tissue specialized to store fat as a reserve energy source, heat insulator, and protective padding around organs and joints.

Adipocytes

Cells of adipose tissue specialized to store large amounts of fat converted from excess nutrient calories.

Dense (Fibrous) Connective Tissue

Tissue consisting mainly of parallel collagen fibers with scattered fibroblasts, providing strength and flexibility in tendons, ligaments, dermis, and muscle fascia.

Tendons and Ligaments

Dense fibrous connective tissue structures made strong to withstand movement forces; tendons connect muscle to bone, while ligaments connect bone to bone.

Elastic Connective Tissue

Connective tissue consisting mostly of elastin fibers with few fibroblasts, located in the walls of large arteries and around lung alveoli.

Cartilage

Hard connective tissue with a firm, smooth, and flexible matrix and cells called chondrocytes; located on joint surfaces, trachea walls, outer ear, tip of nose, and between vertebrae.

Chondrocytes

Specialized cartilage cells located within the firm matrix.

Bone Tissue

Hard connective tissue containing osteocytes and a strong, rigid matrix composed of calcium salts and collagen fibers.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary striated muscle consisting of large cylindrical cells with several nuclei each, attached to bones to produce body movement and generate heat.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary, non-striated visceral muscle consisting of small tapered cells with one nucleus each, found in the walls of arteries, stomach, intestines, and iris of the eyes.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary muscle consisting of branched cells with faint striations and one nucleus each, located in the walls of heart chambers to pump blood.

Flexion

An angular movement consisting of a bending motion that decreases the angle between bones.

Extension

An angular movement consisting of a straightening motion that increases the angle between bones.

Abduction

Movement of a body part away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement of a body part toward the midline of the body.

Circumduction

A circular motion resulting from a combination of angular movements.

Rotation

The twisting or turning of a bone on its own axis.

Elevation and Depression

Special body movements referring to upward motion (elevation) and downward motion (depression).

Protraction and Retraction

Special body movements referring to forward motion (protraction) and backward motion (retraction).

Inversion and Eversion

Movements of the sole of the foot: turning the sole inward (inversion) or outward away from the body (eversion).

Dorsiflexion and Plantar Flexion

Ankle movements where the foot is bent upward narrowing the angle between leg and foot (dorsiflexion) or toes point downward (plantar flexion).

Supination and Pronation

Forearm/hand movements consisting of turning the palm up or forward (supination) versus turning the palm down or backward (pronation).

Opposition

The movement of the thumb toward the other fingers.

Neuron

Specialized cell in nerve tissue that generates and transmits impulses, consisting of a cell body, axon, and dendrites.

Axon

Cellular process of a neuron that carries impulses away from the cell body.

Dendrites

Cellular processes of a neuron that carry impulses toward the cell body.

Synapse

The functional space between two neurons.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical substance that carries the impulse across a synapse.

Neuroglia

Specialized supportive cells in nerve tissue located in the central nervous system (CNS).

Schwann Cells

Specialized supportive cells in nerve tissue located in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).