Human Anatomy & Physiology Chapter 4: Tissue - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues, membrane types, and tissue repair processes from Chapter 4.

Histology

The branch of anatomy focused on the study of tissues.

Epithelial tissue

A sheet of cells that covers a body surface or lines body cavities.

Apical surface

The upper free side of an epithelial cell that is exposed to a body surface or an internal cavity.

Basal surface

The lower attached side of an epithelial cell that faces inwards toward the body and attaches to the basal lamina.

Basal lamina

An adhesive sheet at the basal surface of epithelia that holds epithelial cells to underlying cells.

Reticular lamina

A layer deep to the basal lamina consisting of a network of collagen fibers.

Basement membrane

A membrane composed of the basal lamina and reticular lamina that reinforces the epithelial sheet, resists stretching and tearing, and defines the epithelial boundary.

Endothelium

A specialized simple squamous epithelium that forms the lining of lymphatic vessels, blood vessels, and the heart.

Mesothelium

A specialized simple squamous epithelium found in serous membranes lining the ventral body cavity.

Goblet cell

A mucus-secreting, unicellular exocrine gland found in the epithelial linings of the intestinal and respiratory tracts.

Endocrine glands

Ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the surrounding interstitial fluid to be carried by the circulatory system.

Exocrine glands

Glands that secrete their products through ducts onto body surfaces or into body cavities.

Mucin

A sugar-protein secreted by unicellular exocrine glands that dissolves in water to form a protective, lubricating mucus.

Merocrine glands

Exocrine glands that secrete their products by exocytosis as the secretions are produced, without altering the cell.

Holocrine glands

Exocrine glands that accumulate their secretions within their cells until the cells rupture.

Apocrine glands

Exocrine glands that accumulate products within their cells until only the apex ruptures to release the secretion.

Extracellular matrix

The nonliving portion of connective tissues, consisting of ground substance and fibers, in which living cells are suspended.

Proteoglycans

Molecules found in connective tissue ground substance consisting of a protein core with attached glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

Collagen fibers

The strongest and most abundant fibers in connective tissue that provide high tensile strength.

Elastic fibers

Networks of long, thin fibers made of elastin that allow connective tissues to stretch and recoil.

Reticular fibers

Short, fine, highly branched collagenous fibers that form mesh-like networks to support soft tissues and organs.

Fibroblasts

Immature cells in connective tissue proper that actively secrete ground substance and matrix fibers.

Chondroblasts

Immature, actively growing cartilage cells that secrete cartilage matrix.

Osteoblasts

Immature bone cells that produce the bone tissue matrix.

Intercalated discs

Specialized junctional sites where individual cardiac muscle cells are joined together.

Neurons

Specialized nerve cells that receive stimuli via dendrites and transmit electrical signals along axons.

Neuroglia

Nonexcitable supporting cells in nervous tissue that support, insulate, and protect neurons; also called glial cells.

Cutaneous membrane

The dry membrane covering the exterior body surface, commonly known as skin, composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium attached to dermis.

Mucous membranes

Moist epithelial membranes, also called mucosae, that line body cavities opening to the exterior.

Serous membranes

Moist membranes lining closed ventral body cavities, consisting of simple squamous epithelium resting on thin areolar connective tissue.

Regeneration

A tissue repair process where original tissue function is restored by replacing destroyed tissue with the same kind of tissue.

Fibrosis

A tissue repair process where original tissue function is lost because destroyed tissue is replaced by connective scar tissue.

Granulation tissue

A delicate, capillary-enriched tissue that replaces a blood clot during the organization step of tissue repair.