Anatomy and Physiology Lab- Histology

Epithelium

Forms protective sheets that cover body surfaces, line cavities, and form glands

Epithelium Functions

Protection, absorption, filtration, and secretion

Connective

The most abundant tissue

Connective Functions

Wraps, cushions, protects, insulates, and binds other tissues together

Nervous

Highly specialized to receive stimuli and generate electrical signals across the body

Nervous Functions

Control, to send signals

Muscle

Specialized to contract

Muscle Function

To produce movement and to generate heat

Simple Squamous Function

Diffusion and Filtration

Simple Squamous Location

Kidney glomeruli, lung air sacs, capillary walls

Simple Squamous

Simple Cuboidal Function

Secretion and Absorption

Simple Cuboidal Location

Kidney tubules, small glands, ovary surface

Simple Cuboidal Appearance

Simple Columnar Function

Absorption and Secretion

Simple Columnar Location

Digestive tract (Stomach to rectum)

Simple Columnar Appearance

Stratified Squamous Function

Protects underlying tissues from abrasion

Stratified Squamous Location

Esophagus, Mouth, Vagina (non-keratinized), and skin epidermis (keratinized)

Stratified Squamous Appearance

Pseudostratified Columnar Function

Secretes and propels mucus

Pseudostratified Columnar Location

Trachea and most of Upper Respiratory Tract

Pseudo-stratified Columnar Appearance

Transitional Function

Stretches readily, permitting organ distension

Transitional Location

Urinary bladder, ureters (Cells flatten to look squamous when stretched)

Transitional Appearance

Connective Tissue Origin

Mesenchyme

Areolar Function

Wraps and cushions organs, holds tissue fluid

Areolar Location

Widely distributed under epithelia

Areolar Appearance

Adipose Function

Reserve fuel, insulation, organ protection

Adipose Location

Under skin, around kidneys, breasts

Adipose Appearance

Reticular Function

Forms a soft internal skeleton supporting other cells

Reticular Location

Lymphoid organs (Spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow

Reticular Appearance

Dense Regular Function

Withstands great tensile stress pulling in one direction

Dense Regular Location

Tendons and ligaments

Dense Regular Appearance

Dense Irregular Function

Withstands tension exerted in many directions; provides structural strength

Dense Irregular Location

Dermis of skin, fibrous joint capsules

Dense Irregular Appearance

Elastic Function

Allows passive recoil of tissue after stretching

Elastic Location

Walls of large arteries (aorta), certain vertebral ligaments

Elastic Appearance

Hyaline Cartilage Function

Resilient cushion, resists compression

Hyaline Cartilage Location

Embryonic skeleton, costal (rib), cartilages, ends of long bones, trachea

Hyaline Cartilage Appearance

Fibrocartilage Function

Tensile strength and shock absorption

Fibrocartilage Location

Intervertebral discs, Menisci of knee, Pubic symphysis

Fibrocartilage

Bone Matrix

Hard calcified, packed with collagen. Highly vascularized

Bone Function

Supports, protects, acts as lever for muscles, stores calcium, houses marrow for hematopoiesis

Bone Appearance

Blood

The only fluid connective tissue

Blood Matrix

Completely fluid (plasma)

Blood Function

Transport of respiratory gases, nutrients, and wastes through blood vessels

Blood Appearance

Nervous Tissue Cell Populations

Neurons and Neuralgia

Neurons

Highly specialized to receive stimuli and generate electrical signals

Neuralgia

Non-excitable supporting cells that protect and insulate delicate neurons

Nervous Tissue Location

Brain, spinal cord, nerves

Nervous Tissue Appearance

Neurons Appearance

Skeletal Muscle Structure

Long, cylindrical, multinucleate, striated

Skeletal Muscle Function

Voluntary Movement

Skeletal Muscle Location

Attached to skeleton

Skeletal Muscle Appearance

Cardiac Muscle Structure

Branching, uninucleate, striated, intercalated discs

Cardiac Muscle Function

Involuntary movement, blood propulsion

Cardiac Muscle Location

Heart Walls

Cardiac Muscle Appearance

Intercalated discs function

Allows the heart to act as a single unit

Smooth Muscle Structure

Spindle-shaped, uninucleate, no striations, arranged in sheets

Smooth Muscle Function

Involuntary movement- propulsion of substances (urine, food)

Smooth Muscle Location

Walls of hollow organs

Smooth Muscle Appearance

The Barrier Problem’s Solution

Epithelium

The Scaffolding Problem’s Solution

Connective Tissue

The Engine Problem’s Solution

Muscle

The Wiring Problem’s Solution

Nervous

The Barrier Problem

Need protection and support

The Scaffolding Problem

Need Structure and Connection

The Engine Problem

Need Force Generation

The Wiring Problem

Need Rapid Communication