Anatomy & Physiology: Tissues and the Integumentary System

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering histology, tissue categories, embryonic germ layers, tissue membranes, skin layers, glands, skin cancers, homeostasis, and wound healing based on lecture notes.

Histology

The microscopic study of tissue appearance, organization, and function.

Ectoderm

The outermost embryonic germ layer that gives rise to the epidermis, glands on the skin, the nervous system, cranial bones, pituitary, adrenal medulla, mouth lining, and anus.

Mesoderm

The middle embryonic germ layer that gives rise to connective tissues, bone, cartilage, blood, endothelium, muscle, synovial and serous membranes, kidneys, and gonadal lining.

Endoderm

The innermost embryonic germ layer that gives rise to the lining of airways and the digestive system, digestive glands, endocrine glands, and adrenal cortex.

Synovial Membrane

A type of connective tissue membrane that lines the cavity of a freely movable joint and produces synovial fluid for friction-free movement.

Mucous Membrane

An epithelial membrane lining body cavities and hollow passageways open to the external environment, including the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tracts.

Serous Membrane

An epithelial membrane composed of mesothelium supported by connective tissue that lines internal body cavities closed to the exterior.

Cutaneous Membrane

An epithelial membrane, commonly known as the skin, consisting of stratified squamous epithelium resting on top of connective tissue.

Tight Junction

A specialized cell junction that forms an impermeable barrier between adjacent cell membranes, separating cells into apical and basal compartments.

Desmosome

An anchoring junction occurring in patches that uses cadherin adhesion molecules to link adjacent cell membranes and provide structural stability.

Gap Junction

An intercellular connection forming a passageway between adjacent cell membranes that facilitates the movement of small molecules and ions, coordinating electrical and metabolic activity.

Goblet Cell

A unicellular, mucous-secreting exocrine gland interspersed between columnar epithelial cells in mucous membranes.

Merocrine Secretion

The most common mode of exocrine secretion where products are enclosed in vesicles and released by exocytosis without causing damage to the cell.

Apocrine Secretion

A mode of exocrine secretion in which the apical portion of the cell accumulates secretory products and pinches off from the cell to be released.

Holocrine Secretion

A mode of exocrine secretion involving the rupture and destruction of the entire gland cell as it releases its contents.

Fibroblast

The most abundant cell type in connective tissue proper; secretes protein fibers and hyaluronan to produce the extracellular matrix.

Adipocyte

A lipid-storing cell found in connective tissue proper that stores fat as droplets within its cytoplasm.

Reticular Tissue

A loose connective tissue composed of a network of reticular fibers that provides a supportive framework for soft organs like the spleen and liver.

Hyaline Cartilage

The most common cartilage type in the body, featuring short dispersed collagen fibers and proteoglycans, providing smooth, flexible support at joint surfaces, the nose, and rib cage.

Fibrocartilage

A tough, compressible type of cartilage containing thick bundles of collagen fibers embedded in its matrix, found in intervertebral discs and knee joints.

Elastic Cartilage

A type of cartilage rich in elastic fibers, providing firm support alongside elasticity, present in the external ear lobes.

Skeletal Muscle Tissue

Voluntary muscle tissue characterized by long, cylindrical, striated multinucleated fibers with peripherally located nuclei.

Cardiac Muscle Tissue

Involuntary striated muscle tissue found in the heart wall, consisting of short, branched cells with a single central nucleus connected by intercalated discs.

Smooth Muscle Tissue

Involuntary non-striated muscle tissue made of short, spindle-shaped cells with a single nucleus, located in the walls of internal organs and passageways.

Astrocyte

A star-shaped neuroglial cell in the central nervous system that regulates ion concentrations, handles neurotransmitter uptake, and forms the blood-brain barrier.

Oligodendrocyte

A neuroglial cell responsible for producing the insulating myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system.

Schwann Cell

A neuroglial cell that produces the lipid myelin sheath around nerve axons in the peripheral nervous system.

Stratum Basale

The deepest layer of the epidermis, consisting of a single layer of cuboidal stem cells that constantly undergo mitosis to produce new keratinocytes.

Stratum Spinosum

An epidermal layer 8 to 10 cell layers deep, spiny in appearance due to desmosome connections between cells, containing Langerhans dendritic cells.

Stratum Granulosum

An epidermal layer 3 to 5 layers deep with a grainy appearance caused by the accumulation of keratin and keratohyalin proteins as dying cells flatten.

Stratum Lucidum

A smooth, translucent layer of dead, flattened keratinocytes densely packed with eleiden protein, found only in the thick skin of the palms, soles, and digits.

Stratum Corneum

The most superficial layer of the epidermis, consisting of 15 to 30 layers of dry, dead, cornified cells that prevent microbial penetration and dehydration.

Papillary Layer

The superficial layer of the dermis composed of loose areolar connective tissue featuring dermal papillae that project into the overlying epidermis.

Reticular Layer

The deeper, thicker layer of the dermis composed of dense irregular connective tissue with a net-like meshwork of collagen and elastin fibers.

Hypodermis

The subcutaneous layer directly beneath the dermis, composed primarily of loose areolar and adipose tissue, connecting skin to underlying fascia.

Keratinocyte

The primary cell type of the epidermis that manufactures and stores the fibrous, water-resistant protein keratin.

Melanocyte

A cell located in the stratum basale of the epidermis that produces the pigment melanin to protect against UV radiation.

Langerhans Cell

A specialized dendritic cell found in the stratum spinosum that functions as a macrophage by engulfing pathogens and damaged cells.

Merkel Cell

A receptor cell scattered in the stratum basale that stimulates sensory nerve endings perceived by the brain as touch.

Vitiligo

A skin condition where melanocytes in certain areas lose the ability to produce melanin, leading to lighter-colored patches of skin.

Albinism

A genetic disorder affecting skin, hair, and eye coloration due to the complete or partial inability of melanocytes to produce melanin.

Eccrine Sweat Gland

A abundant merocrine gland on the skin surface that produces hypotonic, water-based sweat essential for thermoregulation.

Apocrine Sweat Gland

A large sweat gland associated with hair follicles in densely hairy areas like armpits and genitals, producing thicker sweat subject to bacterial decomposition.

Sebaceous Gland

A holocrine oil gland associated with hair follicles that excretes lipid-rich sebum to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair.

Acne

A skin disturbance resulting from over-productive sebaceous glands, where accumulated sebum and keratin plug hair follicles and lead to bacterial infection and inflammation.

Meissner Corpuscle

A tactile touch receptor located in a dermal papilla adjacent to the basement membrane of the epidermis that responds to light touch.

Pacinian Corpuscle

A sensory nerve structure in the dermis that detects vibration.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The most common type of skin cancer, originating from mitotically active stem cells in the stratum basale of the epidermis.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A skin cancer affecting the keratinocytes of the stratum spinosum that presents as lesions on sun-exposed areas and can metastasize if untreated.

Melanoma

A highly metastatic and fatal skin cancer characterized by the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes, typically presenting as asymmetrical patches with uneven borders.

Cardinal Signs of Inflammation

The four primary documented signs of tissue inflammation: redness, swelling, pain, and local heat.

Necrosis

Accidental cell death caused by tissue injury, which triggers an inflammatory response in surrounding tissues.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, a normal step-by-step process that destroys unneeded cells without triggering inflammation.

Tissue Healing Process

The multi-step response to injury where blood clotting occurs, white blood cells seep in, fibroblasts lay down collagen, and new capillaries form granulation tissue.

Negative Feedback Loop

A homeostatic control mechanism that maintains body parameters within normal ranges by reversing deviations from a physiological set point using sensors, control centers, and effectors.

Positive Feedback Loop

A physiological mechanism that intensifies a change in the body's condition, driving parameters farther away from normal range until a specific end point is reached.

Thermoregulation

The regulation of body temperature where heat loss is promoted by dermal blood vessel dilation and sweating, or heat is retained by dermal vasoconstriction.