General Tissue Types and Histology Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the organization, functions, locations, and histological characteristics of general tissue types.

Epithelial Tissue

Tissue type that forms the linings of the body and functions in protection, secretion, diffusion, and absorption.

Simple Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of many layers of cells.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Single layer of flattened cells located in lung alveoli (air sacs) and capillaries (small blood vessels); functions in diffusion of substances.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

Single layer of cube-shaped cells located in kidney tubules and glands; functions in secretion of products and some reabsorption of substances in kidneys.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Single layer of tall cells located in the intestinal lining; functions in absorption of nutrients, especially with microvilli projections increasing surface area for it.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Epithelial tissue located in the respiratory tract lining featuring cilia on the hollow-facing side (lumen); functions in secretion of mucus, trapping foreign particles, and moving mucus along the lumen away from lungs.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Multi-layered tissue located in the epidermis (top part) of skin and other openings (anus, vagina, oral cavity); functions in protection from the external environment.

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Multi-layered cuboidal tissue located specifically in sweat glands; functions in secretion of a product (sweat).

Muscular Tissue

Contractile tissue responsible for moving the body and heat generation.

Skeletal Muscle

Muscle tissue located in muscles that attach to the skeleton (e.g., biceps, quadriceps); functions in movement of bones and heat production.

Cardiac Muscle

Muscle tissue located in the myocardium (heart muscle); functions in movement of blood and generation of blood pressure.

Smooth Muscle

Muscle tissue located in the walls of hollow organs (intestines, arteries, stomach, etc.); functions in movement of food, regulating blood pressure, etc.

Nervous Tissue

Signaling tissue located in the brain/spinal cord (central nervous system) and nerves (peripheral nervous system); functions in detecting and processing stimuli, and responding with motor output via signaling.

Neuron

Main cell in nervous tissue that performs signaling.

Glial Cells (Neuroglia)

Cells in nervous tissue that support the neuron.

Connective Tissue

Tissue comprised of cells, gels, and fibers that functions to wrap, bind, connect tissues, transport, support, and protect.

'Proper' Connective Tissue

Connective tissue category characterized by very clear cells, gels, and fibers.

'Improper' Connective Tissue

Connective tissue category that contains cells, gels, and fibers, but they look strange.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Dense proper connective tissue containing lots of deep red collagen fibers, located in the dermis (deep part of skin) and skeletal muscle fascicles (sheaths of muscles); functions in binding and is able to stretch.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Dense proper connective tissue located in tendons and ligaments (and in high-pressure arteries with some elastic tissue); functions in anchoring bones to bones and bones to muscles.

Areolar Connective Tissue

Loose proper connective tissue widespread between many tissue types; functions in binding and connecting tissues to each other.

Adipose Connective Tissue

Loose proper connective tissue located widespread under the skin and padding organs; functions in insulation, padding, and energy storage.

Reticular Connective Tissue

Loose proper connective tissue located in lymphoid tissues (spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow); functions in structural support and houses white blood cells.

Blood

Improper connective tissue composed of red and white blood cells; functions to transport $O_2$ and $CO_2$ and nutrients/waste throughout the body.

Bone

Improper connective tissue that functions in support and calcium storage.

Hyaline Cartilage

Cartilage tissue located at the ends of bones and ribs; functions in protection.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage tissue located in padded areas (intervertebral discs, meniscus of knee, pubic symphysis); functions in padding.

Elastic Cartilage

Cartilage tissue located in 'E' words (ears, epiglottis, eustachian tubes); functions in flexibility of small structures.