Animal & Plant Tissues and Cell Modifications – Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms related to animal and plant tissues, their functions, and specialized cell modifications.

Histology

The branch of biology that studies tissues.

Hierarchy of Biological Organization

Levels of living systems arranged from simplest (cells) to most complex (organism).

Tissue

Group of similar cells that perform a specific function.

Animal Tissue

Four basic types in animals: epithelial, connective, muscle, nervous.

Epithelial Tissue (Epithelium)

Sheets of cells lining organs, cavities, and surfaces; major tissue in glands.

Simple Epithelium

Single cell layer epithelium specialized for absorption, secretion, or filtration.

Compound (Stratified) Epithelium

Multiple cell layers providing protection against abrasion and pathogens.

Protection (Epithelial Function)

Barrier against mechanical injury, pathogens, and fluid loss.

Secretion

Release of substances such as enzymes or hormones by glandular epithelium.

Absorption

Uptake of substances, e.g., nutrients by intestinal epithelium.

Excretion

Removal of waste products via epithelial tissues like kidneys or sweat glands.

Filtration

Selective passage of materials, e.g., kidney glomerular epithelium.

Diffusion (Biology)

Passive movement of molecules from high to low concentration across membranes.

Sensory Reception (Epithelium)

Detection of stimuli via sensory cells embedded in epithelial layers.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Single flat cells; diffusion & filtration; lines air sacs, blood vessels.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

Single cube-shaped cells; secretion & absorption; kidney tubules, small glands.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Tall cells; absorption & secretion; digestive tract, uterus; ciliated forms move mucus.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Appears multilayered; ciliated; secretes & moves mucus in trachea.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Many layers; protection; epidermis, mouth, esophagus, vagina.

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Multiple cuboidal layers; protective; ducts of sweat & salivary glands.

Stratified Columnar Epithelium

Rare; protection & secretion; male urethra, conjunctiva.

Transitional Epithelium

Stretchable multilayer; lines bladder & ureters.

Glandular Epithelium

Specialized epithelial cells that form exocrine and endocrine glands.

Olfactory Epithelium

Nasal epithelium containing odor receptors.

Connective Tissue

Most abundant animal tissue; supports, binds, and connects body parts.

Areolar Tissue

Loose connective tissue between skin & muscles; fills spaces and repairs tissues.

Adipose Tissue

Connective tissue of fat-storing adipocytes; insulation & energy reserve.

Blood

Fluid connective tissue with plasma and cells; transports gases, nutrients, wastes.

Red Blood Cell (Erythrocyte)

Hemoglobin-containing blood cell that carries oxygen.

White Blood Cell (Leucocyte)

Immune cell that defends the body against pathogens.

Platelet (Thrombocyte)

Blood fragment essential for clotting.

Bone

Rigid connective tissue rich in calcium & collagen; support & blood cell formation.

Cartilage

Semi-rigid connective tissue; smooths joint surfaces; nose, ear, trachea.

Chondrocyte

Cartilage-forming cell important in endochondral ossification.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue of contractile fibers enabling movement; smooth, skeletal, cardiac types.

Smooth Muscle

Non-striated, involuntary muscle of organs and vessels; drives peristalsis.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated, voluntary muscle attached to bones; movement & posture.

Cardiac Muscle

Striated, involuntary muscle of heart; contains intercalated discs for syncytium.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue of neurons and glial cells forming central & peripheral nervous systems.

Neuron

Functional nerve cell with dendrites, cell body, and axon transmitting impulses.

Neuroglia

Supportive cells of brain and spinal cord assisting neurons.

Neurosecretory Cell

Neuron that releases hormones directly into blood.

Plant Tissue

Groups of similar plant cells forming structures like roots, stems, leaves.

Meristematic Tissue

Actively dividing plant tissue responsible for growth.

Apical Meristem

Meristem at root and shoot tips; elongation of plant.

Intercalary Meristem

Meristem at internodes or leaf bases; lengthens internode.

Lateral Meristem

Meristem in radial parts; increases plant girth (thickness).

Permanent Tissue

Mature plant cells that have lost division ability; derived from meristem.

Simple Permanent Tissue

Uniform cells; storage & support; e.g., parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma.

Complex Permanent Tissue

Multiple cell types working together; xylem and phloem.

Xylem

Vascular tissue transporting water & dissolved minerals upward in plants.

Protective Tissue

Plant tissue that safeguards surfaces; includes cork and epidermis.

Cork

Suberin-impregnated protective outer tissue; waterproof & gas-impermeable.

Epidermis (Plant)

Outer single-cell layer with stomata; protects and regulates exchange.

Cell Modification

Structural change after division enabling specialized cell functions.

Apical Modification

Specialization at cell’s free surface for secretion, absorption, or movement.

Cilia

Short hair-like projections moving substances over epithelial surfaces.

Flagellum

Long whip-like projection enabling cell motility, e.g., sperm.

Villus (plural Villi)

Finger-like mucosal projection that increases absorptive surface area.

Microvillus

Microscopic membrane fold on villus cells; maximizes absorption efficiency.

Pseudopod

Temporary cytoplasmic extension for motility or phagocytosis in amoeboid cells.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

Meshwork of secreted proteins & carbohydrates around animal cells.

Collagen

Primary fibrous protein of ECM forming strong fibrils.

Proteoglycan

ECM molecule of protein core with glycosaminoglycan side chains forming hydrated gel.

Basal Modification

Special structures at cell base for anchoring to basement membrane.

Hemidesmosome

Junction anchoring epithelial cell to basement membrane via keratin filaments.

Lateral Modification

Special junctions connecting adjacent epithelial cells.

Tight Junction

Occluding junction sealing neighboring cells to prevent leakage.

Adherens Junction

Cell–cell junction using cadherins to fasten cells below tight junctions.

Gap Junction

Communicating junction allowing ions and small molecules to pass between cells.