Anatomy Histology Pt. 1

Adipocyte

Fat Cell, makes up adipose tissue

Adipose Tissue

A type of connective tissue that stores energy in the form of fat and provides insulation and cushioning for the body.

Apical Surface

The uppermost layer of epithelial tissue, exposed to the body exterior or the outermost layer exposed to body openings

Apocrine

Sweat Glands

Axon

The long, slender projection of a nerve cell that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Basal Lamina

a thin, specialized layer of extracellular matrix that sits directly beneath epithelial and endothelial cells, providing structural support and acting as a selective filter

Basal Surface

the bottom edge of a cell or tissue that attaches to the underlying basement membrane

Basement Membrane

a thin, strong sheet of specialized tissue that supports cell layers and anchors them to the underlying connective tissue

Canaliculi

microscopic, tiny tunnels in the body that connect small cell spaces and let cells share nutrients and signals

Cardiac Muscle Cells

specialized, striated muscle cells found exclusively in the heart that contract involuntarily to pump

Chondrocyte

The only specialized cells found in cartilage, responsible for producing and maintaining the flexible, supportive extracellular matrix

Cilia

tiny, hair-like structures that project from the surface of many cells in the body and in single-celled organisms

Collagen

The most abundant protein in the human body, acting as the main structural building block for skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues

Columnar Cell

tall, rectangular epithelial cells that are significantly taller than they are wide

Compact Bone

the dense and hard outer layer of bone tissue that provides structural support and protection to the skeleton

compound gland

an exocrine gland that features a branched duct system

cuboidal cell

a cube-shaped epithelial cell that has roughly equal dimensions in height, width, and depth, featuring a single, round, centrally located nucleus

cutaneous membrane

the skin that covers the outside of the body

cytosol

the jelly-like, water-based fluid that fills the inside of a cell and surrounds the internal structures

dendrite

the tree-like branching extensions of a nerve cell that receive electrochemical signals from other neurons

dense irregular connective tissue

a type of structural tissue with thick, randomly interwoven collagen fibers that resist pulling forces from any direction

dense regular collagenous connective tissue

a type of connective tissue proper featuring densely packed, parallel bundles of collagen fibers that provide high tensile strength and resistance to pulling forces in a single direction

dense regular elastic connective tissue

a specialized type of connective tissue proper packed with parallel bundles of elastic fibers that allow structures to stretch and snap back into place

desmosome

specialized adhesive protein complexes that lock neighboring animal cells together to give tissues strong mechanical strength

ductal epithelium

the layer of specialized cells that lines the inside of bodily ducts

elastic cartilage

a highly flexible type of connective tissue that contains a dense network of branching elastic fibers allowing it to bounce back to its original shape after bending

elastin

a vital protein that acts as the chief component of elastic fibers in connective tissues

epithelium

a type of animal tissue made of tightly packed cells that cover the outside of the body, line internal cavities and organs, and form glands

erythrocytes

red blood cells that carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body

exocrine

relating to glands that secrete substances through tubes or ducts onto a body surface or into a cavity, rather than directly into the bloodstream

extracellular fluid

all the body fluid located outside of the cells

extracellular matrix

a complex network of proteins and sugars that surrounds, supports, and gives structure to cells and tissues in the body

fibrocartilage

the toughest and strongest type of cartilage in the human body

fibrosis

excessive buildup of thick, fibrous scar tissue in an organ or body part

Gap Junction

a specialized channel that connects the cytoplasm of neighboring animal cells

glial cell

non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that support, protect, and nourish neurons

glycoprotein

a type of protein that has sugar molecules attached to it

glycosaminoglycan

long, unbranched sugar chains made of repeating disaccharide (two-sugar) units that help build and support connective tissues in the body

goblet cell

specialized epithelial cells that line the mucosal surfaces of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts to secrete gel-forming mucins that create a protective mucus layer

ground substance

a clear, gel-like fluid that fills the empty space between cells and protein fibers inside connective tissues

Haversian (osteonic) canal

the microscopic, tubular channel located in the center of an osteon in compact bone tissue

holocrine

a type of exocrine gland secretion where the entire glandular cell disintegrates and breaks down to release its product

hyaline cartilage

the most common type of connective tissue in the body

integral protein

They form tunnels or pumps to move molecules and ions in and out of the cell

intercalated discs

specialized cell junctions that connect adjacent cardiac muscle cells (cardiomyocytes) in the heart

keloid

a thick, raised overgrowth of scar tissue

keratin

a tough, fibrous, and water-insoluble protein that forms the main structural material in human and animal hair and nails

keratinized

a cell or tissue has filled with keratin, a tough and protective protein

lacunae

small microscopic cavities or spaces in the extracellular matrix that house living cells like osteocytes in bone or chondrocytes in cartilage

lamellae

a thin, flat layer, membrane, or plate of tissue

leukocytes

White blood cells, complete cells in the blood that protect your body from infections, diseases, and foreign invaders

lipid inclusion

a non-membrane-bound cytoplasmic aggregate composed of accumulated neutral lipids

loose connective tissue

a sparse, open arrangement of protein fibers suspended in a watery, gel-like ground substance

membrane-like structure