BIOL 143 - defines Vertebrate Animal Tissues Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the BIOL 143 Vertebrate Animal Tissues notes.

Axon

The long part of a neuron that carries the nerve impulse away from the cell body.

Blood cell

A cell found in blood. The main types on this list are red blood cells and white blood cells.

Bone

A special connective tissue with a strong, hard extracellular matrix.

Canaliculi

Tiny passages in bone that connect the spaces where bone cells are located.

Cardiac

Relating to the heart.

Cardiocyte

A cardiac muscle cell - a muscle cell of the heart.

Cardiac muscle

Heart muscle. It is involuntary, striated, and its cells are branched and connected by intercalated disks.

Cartilage

A special connective tissue with cells called chondrocytes sitting in spaces called lacunae.

Cell body (soma)

The main part of a neuron that contains the nucleus.

Chondroitin sulfate

A substance found in cartilage's extracellular matrix that helps give cartilage its firm, flexible quality.

Chondrocyte

A cartilage cell. Chondrocytes sit inside spaces called lacunae.

Collagen

A strong fibrous protein that gives connective tissue strength.

Columnar

Tall, column-shaped epithelial cells.

Connective tissue

One of the four primary tissue types. Its cells are usually not tightly packed and are surrounded by extracellular matrix; it supports and connects.

Cuboidal

Cube-shaped epithelial cells.

Dendrites

Branches of a neuron that carry nerve impulses toward the cell body.

Elastic (elastin)

Elastin is an elastic fibrous protein that allows tissue to stretch and return toward its original shape.

Epithelial

One of the four primary tissue types. Its cells are tightly packed into sheets that cover surfaces and line cavities.

Erythrocyte

A red blood cell. It carries oxygen using hemoglobin.

Fibers

Protein strands in connective tissue's extracellular matrix that help give the tissue support and strength.

Fibroblasts

Cells in connective tissue that secrete fibrous proteins that form the extracellular matrix.

Glandular epithelium

Epithelial tissue specialized for secretion. Think: glands secrete substances.

Ground substance

The material that fills the spaces between cells and fibers in connective tissue.

Haversian canal (central canal)

The central canal of an osteon in bone.

Hemoglobin

The oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. Oxygen binds to iron in its heme portion.

Human blood

A special connective tissue made of blood cells suspended in a fluid extracellular matrix called plasma.

Hyaline cartilage

A type of cartilage with a smooth-looking, firm but flexible matrix.

Intercalated disk

A connection between cardiac muscle cells; it appears as a dark line between cells.

Keratin

A strong fibrous protein that forms intermediate filaments and helps give epithelial cells strength and protection.

Lacunae

Small cavities or spaces where cells such as chondrocytes in cartilage or osteocytes in bone reside.

Lamellae

Thin concentric layers or plates of bone around a Haversian canal.

Leukocyte

A white blood cell.

Loose connective tissue

Connective tissue with loosely arranged fibers and cells in ground substance.

Macrophage

A connective-tissue immune cell that engulfs and removes unwanted material.

Muscle tissue

One of the four primary tissue types. Its main job is contraction and movement.

Muscular

Relating to muscle or muscle tissue.

Nervous tissue

One of the four primary tissue types. It is specialized for communication using nerve impulses.

Neuron

A nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses.

Organ

A structure made of multiple tissues working together.

Osteoblast

A bone-forming cell.

Osteoclast

A cell that breaks down bone tissue.

Osteocyte

A bone cell found in a lacuna.

Plasma

The fluid extracellular matrix of blood.

Platelet

A small blood component involved in blood clotting.

Schwann cells

Cells that form the myelin sheath around an axon, helping the nerve impulse travel.

Simple epithelium

Epithelium that is one layer of cells thick.

Skeletal

Relating to skeletal muscle or the skeleton.

Skeletal muscle

Voluntary, striated muscle made of long, fiber-like cells with multiple nuclei.

Smooth muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle made of tapered cells.

Squamous

Flat-shaped epithelial cells.

Stratified epithelium

Epithelium with multiple actual layers of cells. Only the bottom layer touches the base.

System

Multiple organs working together.

Tissue

A group of similar cells working together to perform a function.