Function of Tissues and Cells

Epithelial tissue characteristics

Avascular, described by shape and arrangement of cells: flat (squamous), square (cuboidal), columnar, single layer (simple) or multilayered (stratified)

Epithelial tissue general functions

Lines, covers, protects, secretes

Epithelial tissue locations

Skin, lining body cavities, covering organs

Muscle tissue characteristics

Described by appearance and nervous system control: striped (striated) or smooth (nonstriated), voluntary or involuntary control

Muscle tissue general functions

Contracts to create: posture, movement of body parts, movement of fluid and substances through the body

Muscle tissue locations

Skeletal muscles, heart, walls of internal organs and vessels

Nervous tissue characteristics

Two types of cells: nonconductile (glial cells) and conductile (neurons)

Nervous tissue general functions

Supports, protects, and insulates (glial), conducts electrical impulses (neurons)

Nervous tissue locations

Brain, spinal cord, nerves

Connective tissue characteristics

Three common structural elements: cells, fibers, and ground substance

Connective tissue general functions

Supports and provides structure, connects, protects, transports

Connective tissue locations

Bone and cartilage, tendons and ligaments, blood and lymph, fat

Liquid connective tissue examples

Blood and lymph

Loose connective tissue examples

Adipose, areolar, reticular

Fibrous connective tissue examples

Tendons, Ligaments, fascia

Cartilage connective tissue examples

Hyaline, fibrocartilage, elastic

Bone connective tissue examples

Dense (compact), spongy (cancellous)

Describe skeletal muscle tissue

Striated appearance, voluntary control. Creates the muscular system that holds the skeleton upright and moves body parts

Describe cardiac muscle tissue

Striated appearance, involuntary control. Found only in the heart

Describe visceral muscle tissue

Nonstriated (smooth) appearance, involuntary control. Found in the walls of hollow organs

Glial cells

Specialized connecting cells that bind neurons together and act as insulation and protection for neurons

Phagocytosis

Active transport mechanism. Form of endocytosis where cells engulf and destroy large particles, like bacteria, dead cells, and debris

Phagocytes

Cells that carry out phagocytosis, generally found in blood and connective tissue

Diffusion

Passive transport mechanism that relies on differences in the level of concentration between substances

Filtration

Passive transport mechanism that relies on differences in pressure.

Osmosis

Form of diffusion when water moves across the membrane from an area of high to low concentration.

Facilitated diffusion

When a carrier molecule is involved in the diffusion process, due to particle being too large to pass through the plasma membrane.

Totipotent stem cells

The first eight cells produced through division of a fertilized egg. Each cell is capable of producing a complete human organism.

Pluripotent stem cells

Stem cells capable of reproducing themselves or differentiating into any type of body tissue.

Multipotent stem cells

Cells limited in their differentiation capacity — each cell is capable of producing only a certain type of cell.

Embryonic layers

Stem cells of the developing embryo that organize into ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Ectoderm

Tissue layer that become the specialized cells, tissues, and organs of the skin and nervous system

Mesoderm

Tissue layer that becomes muscles and connective tissues

Endoderm

Tissue layer that becomes the internal organs