Module 4 - Tissues, Glands, and Membranes Flashcards

A set of 71 vocabulary flashcards covering stem cells, tissue types, oncology, and medical terminology based on the lecture notes.

Stem cells

Young, actively dividing cells from which all body tissues derive during development, which gradually differentiate into mature, functioning cells.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells

Dividing stem cells active during development in the uterus; they possess the greatest potential for multiplication and differentiation.

Postnatal stem cells

Commonly called "adult stem cells," these persist in the body after birth to assist in ongoing growth and repair.

Epithelial tissue

One of the four main tissue groups; it covers surfaces, lines cavities, and forms glands.

Connective tissue

One of the four main tissue groups; it supports and forms the structural framework of the body.

Muscle tissue

One of the four main tissue groups; it contracts to produce movement.

Nervous tissue

One of the four main tissue groups; it conducts electrical impulses.

Epithelium (ep-ih-THE-le-um)

A tissue composed of tightly packed cells that covers body surfaces, lines cavities, forms protective barriers, and builds glands.

Calluses

Hardened and thickened patches of skin epithelium formed in response to unusual wear and tear for extra strength.

Squamous cells

Epithelial cells that have a flat and irregular shape.

Cuboidal cells

Epithelial cells that are square or cube-shaped.

Columnar cells

Epithelial cells that are long and narrow.

Simple epithelium

A single layer of cells serving as a thin barrier for absorption, secretion, and gas exchange, such as in the digestive tract.

Stratified epithelium

Multiple layers of epithelial cells designed for protection in areas subjected to high wear and tear.

Pseudostratified epithelium

Tissue where cells are staggered so they appear to be in multiple layers, though all anchor to the same basement membrane.

Transitional epithelium

A specialized tissue in expandable organs like the urinary bladder that can stretch significantly and return to its original shape.

Circulating connective tissue

Connective tissue with a liquid matrix, such as blood cells found in blood and lymph vessels.

Loose connective tissue

Connective tissue with a soft or jelly-like matrix, including areolar tissue and subcutaneous fat.

Dense connective tissue

Strong, fiber-packed tissue containing fibroblasts found in tendons, ligaments, and organ capsules.

Cartilage

Connective tissue with a firm and flexible matrix containing chondrocytes.

Bone (Osseous) tissue

Connective tissue with a hard or solidified matrix containing osteoblasts and osteocytes.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary, striated muscle with multiple nuclei per cell attached to bones and tendons.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary, striated muscle with single nuclei and branching network cells found in the heart wall (myocardium).

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle with single nuclei and tapered, spindle-shaped cells found in hollow organs.

Brain

The central control agent of the body's control system, acting like a central switchboard receiving and sending messages.

Nerves

The body's "wires" that establish direct lines of communication between body structures and the central nervous system.

Spinal cord

The great "trunk cable" that collects nerves from remote body parts and routes their messages into the brain.

Cranial nerves

Nerves that connect directly to the brain without communicating through or traveling down the spinal cord.

Neuron (NU-ron)

The basic functional unit and nerve cell of nervous tissue, specialized for transmitting electrical signals.

Neuroglia (nu-ROG-le-ah)

The non-conducting specialized support cells of nervous tissue that protect, nourish, insulate, and bind neurons together.

Serous membrane

An epithelial membrane lining the thoracic, cardiac, and abdominal cavities, consisting of simple epithelium and areolar tissue.

Mucous membrane

An epithelial membrane lining the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive tracts.

Cutaneous membrane

An epithelial membrane consisting of stratified squamous and dense irregular connective tissue, commonly known as skin.

Synovial membrane

A connective tissue membrane made of loose connective (areolar) tissue found in joint cavities and bursae.

Fascia

A connective tissue membrane found in the subcutaneous layer or muscle sheaths.

Peri-membranes

Connective tissue membranes covering bone (periosteum) or cartilage (perichondrium).

Neoplasm

Also known as a tumor, it is an abnormal growth of tissue formed when cells divide more rapidly than normal.

Oncology (ong-KOL-o-je)

The branch of medicine dedicated to the study and treatment of tumors and cancer.

In situ (SI-tu)

A growth pattern where a tumor resides in a single mass confined strictly to its place of origin.

Benign tumor

An encapsulated tumor with cells that resemble normal tissue and do not metastasize.

-oma

The suffix typically used to name benign tumors, meaning "tumor."

Papilloma (pap-ih-LO-mah)

A benign epithelial tumor that grows as a projecting mass, such as a common wart.

Adenoma (ad-eh-NO-mah)

A benign epithelial tumor that grows in or around glandular structures.

Lipoma (lip-O-mah)

A benign connective tissue tumor originating in adipose (fat) tissue.

Osteoma (os-te-O-mah)

A benign connective tissue tumor that originates in bone tissue.

Myoma (mi-O-mah)

A benign tumor of muscle tissue, commonly called a fibroid when found in the uterus.

Angioma (an-je-O-mah)

A benign tumor composed mostly of small blood or lymphatic vessels.

Nevus (NE-vus)

A small skin tumor; pigmented types are commonly known as moles.

Meningioma (men-in-je-O-mah)

A benign tumor originating in the meninges, the connective tissue linings of the brain and spinal cord.

Chondroma (kon-DRO-mah)

A benign tumor originating from cartilage cells.

Metastasis (meh-TAS-tah-sis)

The process by which malignant tumor cells break away, travel through blood or lymph, and establish secondary tumors.

Carcinoma (kar-sih-NO-mah)

A malignant tumor originating in epithelial tissue; the most common type of cancer.

Sarcoma (sar-KO-mah)

A malignant tumor originating in connective tissue, frequently metastasizing to the lungs via the bloodstream.

Chondrosarcoma

A malignant tumor arising specifically from cartilage cells.

Leukemia (lu-KE-me-ah)

A cancer originating in blood-forming tissues that causes overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.

Lymphoma (lim-FO-mah)

A malignant neoplasm arising in lymphatic tissue.

Glioma (gli-O-mah)

A malignant tumor originating in the supporting neural tissue (neuroglia) of the brain or spinal cord.

TNM System

A staging method that evaluates Tumor size, lymph Node involvement, and distant Metastasis.

Chemotherapy

A systemic treatment involving chemical inhibition of cell division to attack metastasized cancer cells.

Atrophy

A process during aging or after injury involving the loss of cell size and tissue mass.

hist/o-

A combining form meaning tissue, as used in histology.

epi-

A prefix meaning on or upon.

pseud/o-

A prefix meaning false, used in terms like pseudostratified.

blast/o-

A combining form meaning an immature cell or early cell stage.

chondr/o-

A combining form meaning cartilage.

oste/o-

A combining form used to refer to bone.

my/o-

A combining form meaning muscle.

arthr/o-

A combining form meaning joint.

peri-

A prefix meaning around.

pleur/o-

A word part meaning side or rib.

-itis

A suffix meaning inflammation.