PHT 500 - Human Anatomy & Histology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the four basic tissue types, epithelial surface modifications, connective tissue components, cartilage types, bone cell functions, and ossification processes.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue that covers surfaces, lines cavities, and forms glands.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that supports and binds other tissues.

Muscular Tissue

Tissue responsible for producing movement.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue that transmits impulses for coordination and control.

Endothelium

A specific type of epithelium found in blood and lymph vessels.

Mesothelium

A specific type of epithelium lining the abdominal, pericardial, and pleural cavities.

Avascularity

A characteristic of epithelium where there is no direct blood supply, except for the stria vascularis in the inner ear.

Simple Epithelium

Classification of epithelium consists of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Classification of epithelium consisting of multiple layers of cells.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

Epithelium that appears layered, though all cells touch the basement membrane.

Cilia

Motile surface modifications found in the respiratory tract and uterine tubes.

Microvilli

Non-motile surface modifications found in the small intestine and kidney tubules.

Stereocilia

Long, non-motile surface modifications found in the epididymis and inner ear.

Tight Junctions (Zonula Occludens)

Junctional complexes that prevent material passage between cells.

Adhering Junctions (Zonula Adherens)

Junctional complexes providing firm cell adhesion.

Desmosomes

Junctional complexes that provide stability against shearing forces.

Hemidesmosomes

Junctional complexes that attach cells to the basement membrane.

Gap Junctions

Junctional complexes that allow molecule diffusion and cell communication.

Fibroblasts

The most common cell type in loose connective tissue; they synthesize fibers and ground substance.

Adipose Cells

Connective tissue cells that store fat.

Macrophages

Phagocytic cells that ingest foreign material and debris.

Plasma Cells

Cells derived from lymphocytes that produce antibodies.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Connective tissue with predominantly type I collagen fibers in random orientation, found in the dermis and organ capsules.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Connective tissue with uniform, parallel collagen fibers providing strong binding in tendons and ligaments.

Tendinosis

A degenerative disease within a tendon associated with age or overexertion, characterized by collagen disorganization and microtears.

Type I Collagen

The most abundant collagen type, found in dermis, tendons, and bones, providing resistance to tensile stress.

Type II Collagen

Collagen type found in hyaline and elastic cartilage providing pressure resistance.

Type III Collagen

Collagen type that forms supporting meshworks in organs like the spleen and lymph nodes; also known as reticular fibers.

Type IV Collagen

Collagen type found in the basal lamina providing supportive meshwork.

Hypertrophic Scars

Raised scars that remain within the margins of the original wound.

Keloids

Scar tissue that grows beyond the margin of the original wound.

Marfan Syndrome

An autosomal-dominant disorder caused by an FBN1 gene mutation affecting elastic fiber formation.

Ground Substance

Amorphous, transparent, semifluid gel that fills spaces between fibers and cells and facilitates nutrient diffusion.

Hyaluronic Acid

The principal glycosaminoglycan (GAG) that attracts water to form a hydrated gel.

Fibronectin

Adhesive glycoprotein that binds connective tissue cells, collagen fibers, and proteoglycans.

Integrins

Proteins that bind extracellular collagen fibers to actin filaments in the cytoskeleton.

Laminin

Major component of the basement membrane that binds epithelial cells to the basal lamina.

Chondroblasts

Cells that differentiate from mesenchymal cells to synthesize the cartilage extracellular matrix.

Chondrocytes

Mature cartilage cells that reside in matrix compartments called lacunae.

Hyaline Cartilage

The most common cartilage type, serving as a skeletal model in embryos and providing smooth joint surfaces.

Elastic Cartilage

Highly flexible cartilage containing numerous elastic fibers, found in the external ear and epiglottis.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage consisting of hyaline matrix and dense type I collagen, found in intervertebral discs and the symphysis pubis.

Perichondrium

A dense irregular connective tissue layer surrounding most cartilage, containing fibroblasts and chondroblasts.

Interstitial Growth

Cartilage growth from within via the mitosis of chondroblasts.

Appositional Growth

Cartilage growth from the periphery as chondroblasts from the perichondrium add matrix layers.

Compact Bone

The dense outer cylindrical part of bone composed of lamellae and osteons.

Cancellous (Spongy) Bone

Inner bone surface containing interconnecting areas and marrow cavities.

Osteons

Concentric lamellar complexes surrounding central (Haversian) canals in mature bone.

Woven Bone

Immature bone with random collagen fiber arrangement, temporary and found during fetal development or fracture repair.

Osteoprogenitor Cells

Undifferentiated stem cells that differentiate into osteoblasts during bone development.

Osteoblasts

Cells that synthesize and secrete osteoid and initiate bone mineralization.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells trapped in lacunae that maintain the bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Large multinucleated cells derived from the macrophage-monocyte line responsible for bone resorption.

Osteoid

The organic components of new bone matrix secreted by osteoblasts.

Endochondral Ossification

Bone development process where long bones form by replacing hyaline cartilage models.

Intramembranous Ossification

Bone development process where flat bones form directly from mesenchymal condensation.