Histology II - Cartilage, Bone, and Muscle Tissues

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the Histology II lecture notes covering cartilage types, bone composition and formation, muscle tissue classifications, and lactic acid recycling.

Cartilage

Supportive connective tissue with a flexible, rubbery matrix that gives shape to the ear, tip of the nose, and larynx.

Chondroblasts

Cartilage-forming cells that produce matrix and surround themselves until trapped in little cavities called lacunae.

Chondrocytes

Cartilage cells located inside lacunae.

Lacunae

Little cavities within tissue matrix that enclose chondrocytes in cartilage or osteocytes in bone.

Hyaline cartilage

Cartilage with a clear, glassy appearance due to unusual fineness of collagen fibers; eases joint movement and holds airways open in the trachea, larynx, articular cartilage, and fetal skeleton.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage containing elastic fibers covered with perichondrium; provides flexible, elastic support in the external ear and epiglottis.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage containing large, coarse bundles of collagen fibers; resists compression and absorbs shock in the pubic symphysis, menisci, and intervertebral discs.

Organic Matrix (Osteoid Tissue)

The organic extracellular component of bone consisting of collagen fibrins bound by amorphous mucopolysaccharide substance.

Inorganic Matrix (Bone Mineral)

The inorganic component of bone matrix consisting of calcium phosphate (hydroxyapatite).

Spongy bone

A form of osseous tissue with a spongy appearance consisting of delicate struts called trabeculae, found in heads of long bones and middle of flat bones.

Compact bone

Dense, calcified osseous tissue without visible spaces, arranged in cylindrical units surrounding central canals in long bones.

Osteon

A structural unit of compact bone consisting of a central (haversian) canal and its surrounding concentric lamellae.

Canaliculi

Delicate canals radiating from each lacuna to its neighbors, allowing osteocytes to make contact with each other.

Periosteum

Tough fibrous connective tissue covering the surface of a bone as a whole.

Endochondral Ossification

Highly organized transformation of cartilage to bone occurring at primary and secondary ossification centers that contributes to increase in bone length.

Intramembranous Ossification

Appositional periosteal bone formation that increases bone thickness and participates in bone remodeling throughout life.

Muscular tissue

Tissue composed of elongated cells specialized to contract in response to stimulation, exerting physical force on other tissues and organs.

Smooth muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle composed of short fusiform cells with a single centrally located nucleus, forming layers in visceral organ walls.

Cardiac muscle

Involuntary, striated muscle limited to the heart, containing shorter branched myocytes joined end-to-end by intercalated discs.

Intercalated discs

Structures that join cardiocytes end-to-end in cardiac muscle, providing electrical and mechanical connections.

Skeletal muscle

Voluntary, striated muscle made of long threadlike cells (muscle fibers) containing multiple nuclei located adjacent to the plasma membrane.

Cori Cycle

A process divided between liver and muscles where circulating lactic acid is absorbed by the liver to produce glucose, which is then used by muscle fibers to rebuild glycogen reserves.