Module 2: Tissues & Integumentary System

A set of question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on tissues, glands, inflammation, and the integumentary system.

What are the four basic tissue types in the human body?

Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Which tissue type covers external surfaces and lines cavities?

Epithelial tissue.

List the five defining characteristics of epithelial tissue.

Polarity, avascularity, connection to a basement membrane, high regenerative capacity, and presence of cell junctions.

How is epithelial tissue classified?

By number of layers (simple, stratified) and cell shape (squamous, cuboidal, columnar), plus special types (pseudostratified, transitional).

Which epithelial membrane lines body tracts exposed to the exterior and secretes mucus?

Mucous membrane.

Which epithelial membrane reduces friction in body cavities such as the pleura and peritoneum?

Serous membrane.

Which epithelial membrane is commonly known as skin?

Cutaneous membrane.

Differentiate endocrine and exocrine glands.

Exocrine glands release products onto an epithelial surface through ducts; endocrine glands secrete products directly into connective tissue and bloodstream.

Name the three mechanisms of exocrine secretion.

Merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine secretion.

Give one example of a merocrine gland.

Eccrine sweat gland (secretes by exocytosis).

Give one example of an apocrine gland.

Apocrine sweat gland of axillary and anogenital regions.

Give one example of a holocrine gland.

Sebaceous (oil) gland.

What are the three main categories of connective tissue?

Connective tissue proper, fluid connective tissue, and supporting connective tissue.

Name the three primary fiber types found in connective tissue.

Collagen fibers, reticular fibers, and elastic fibers.

What components make up connective tissue?

Cells, fibers, and extracellular matrix (ground substance).

Which loose connective tissue stores fat and cushions organs?

Adipose tissue.

Where is dense regular connective tissue typically found, and why?

In tendons and ligaments; parallel collagen fibers resist unidirectional tension.

Which type of cartilage is most resistant to compression and found in intervertebral discs?

Fibrocartilage.

Which type of cartilage forms the embryonic skeleton and articular surfaces?

Hyaline cartilage.

Which connective tissue is fluid and transports nutrients and wastes?

Blood.

Identify the three types of muscle tissue.

Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.

Which muscle type is voluntary and attached to bones?

Skeletal muscle.

Which muscle type is involuntary and forms the heart wall?

Cardiac muscle.

Which muscle type lines hollow organs and is involuntary?

Smooth muscle.

Which two muscle types are striated?

Skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Name the two main cell types in nervous tissue.

Neurons and neuroglia.

What is the primary function of neurons?

Conduct electrical impulses.

Which tissue type has the highest regenerative capacity?

Epithelial tissue.

Which tissue type has very limited regenerative capacity, especially in adults?

Nervous tissue (neurons) and cardiac muscle.

What are the five cardinal signs of inflammation?

Redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function.

What is the first phase of tissue repair?

Inflammatory response.

What is the second phase of tissue repair that restores original tissue function?

Regeneration.

Which cells release histamine to increase blood vessel permeability during inflammation?

Mast cells.

List the three layers of the skin from superficial to deep.

Epidermis, dermis, hypodermis (subcutaneous layer).

Name two accessory organs of the integumentary system besides skin.

Hair and nails (others include sensory receptors and glands).

State four physiological functions of skin.

Vitamin D synthesis, sensation, temperature regulation, and excretion of wastes.

Describe the ABCDE rule for melanoma detection.

Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter >6 mm, Evolution (change).

Differentiate first-, second-, third-, and fourth-degree burns.

First: epidermis only; second: epidermis + part of dermis; third: full epidermis and dermis; fourth: extends into muscle/bone.

Which epidermal layer contains mitotic stem cells?

Stratum basale.

Which epidermal layer is only present in thick skin?

Stratum lucidum.

Which mechanoreceptor detects light touch and vibrations at low frequency?

Meissner’s corpuscle.

Which mechanoreceptor senses deep pressure and high-frequency vibration?

Pacinian corpuscle.

Which mechanoreceptor responds to stretch and warmth?

Ruffini ending.

Which mechanoreceptor detects fine, steady light touch?

Merkel’s disk (cell).

What connective tissue predominantly forms the dermis?

Dense irregular connective tissue.

Which experiment assesses vascular perfusion by measuring color return to a blanched fingernail?

Capillary refill time test.

What lab test compares the tactile acuity of different body regions using calipers?

Two-point discrimination test.

Which skin receptors are responsible for detecting temperature changes?

Thermoreceptors.

Which glands secrete earwax?

Ceruminous glands (modified apocrine glands).

What structure produces fingerprints?

Dermal papillae (not the subcutaneous papilla).

Why does hyaline cartilage heal slowly?

It is avascular, so nutrients and reparative cells must diffuse from surrounding tissues.

What are the four basic tissue types in the human body?

Epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Which tissue type covers external surfaces and lines cavities?

Epithelial tissue.

List the five defining characteristics of epithelial tissue.

Polarity, avascularity, connection to a basement membrane, high regenerative capacity, and presence of cell junctions.

How is epithelial tissue classified?

By number of layers (simple, stratified) and cell shape (squamous, cuboidal, columnar), plus special types (pseudostratified, transitional).

Which epithelial membrane lines body tracts exposed to the exterior and secretes mucus?

Mucous membrane.

Which epithelial membrane reduces friction in body cavities such as the pleura and peritoneum?

Serous membrane.

Which epithelial membrane is commonly known as skin?

Cutaneous membrane.

Differentiate endocrine and exocrine glands.

Exocrine glands release products onto an epithelial surface through ducts; endocrine glands secrete products directly into connective tissue and bloodstream.

Name the three mechanisms of exocrine secretion.

Merocrine, apocrine, and holocrine secretion.

Give one example of a merocrine gland.

Eccrine sweat gland (secretes by exocytosis).

Give one example of an apocrine gland.

Apocrine sweat gland of axillary and anogenital regions.

Give one example of a holocrine gland.

Sebaceous (oil) gland.

What are the three main categories of connective tissue?

Connective tissue proper, fluid connective tissue, and supporting connective tissue.

Name the three primary fiber types found in connective tissue.

Collagen fibers, reticular fibers, and elastic fibers.

What components make up connective tissue?

Cells, fibers, and extracellular matrix (ground substance).

Which loose connective tissue stores fat and cushions organs?

Adipose tissue.

Where is dense regular connective tissue typically found, and why?

In tendons and ligaments; parallel collagen fibers resist unidirectional tension.

Which type of cartilage is most resistant to compression and found in intervertebral discs?

Fibrocartilage.

Which type of cartilage forms the embryonic skeleton and articular surfaces?

Hyaline cartilage.

Which connective tissue is fluid and transports nutrients and wastes?

Blood.

Identify the three types of muscle tissue.

Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.

Which muscle type is voluntary and attached to bones?

Skeletal muscle.

Which muscle type is involuntary and forms the heart wall?

Cardiac muscle.

Which muscle type lines hollow organs and is involuntary?

Smooth muscle.

Which two muscle types are striated?

Skeletal and cardiac muscle.

Name the two main cell types in nervous tissue.

Neurons and neuroglia.

What is the primary function of neurons?

Conduct electrical impulses.

Which tissue type has the highest regenerative capacity?

Epithelial tissue.

Which tissue type has very limited regenerative capacity, especially in adults?

Nervous tissue (neurons) and cardiac muscle.

What are the five cardinal signs of inflammation?

Redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function.

What is the first phase of tissue repair?

Inflammatory response.

What is the second phase of tissue repair that restores original tissue function?

Regeneration.

Which cells release histamine to increase blood vessel permeability during inflammation?

Mast cells.

List the three layers of the skin from superficial to deep.

Epidermis, dermis, hypodermis (subcutaneous layer).

Name two accessory organs of the integumentary system besides skin.

Hair and nails (others include sensory receptors and glands).

State four physiological functions of skin.

Vitamin D synthesis, sensation, temperature regulation, and excretion of wastes.

Describe the ABCDE rule for melanoma detection.

Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter >6 mm, Evolution (change).

Differentiate first-, second-, third-, and fourth-degree burns.

First: epidermis only; second: epidermis + part of dermis; third: full epidermis and dermis; fourth: extends into muscle/bone.

Which epidermal layer contains mitotic stem cells?

Stratum basale.

Which epidermal layer is only present in thick skin?

Stratum lucidum.

Which mechanoreceptor detects light touch and vibrations at low frequency?

Meissner’s corpuscle.

Which mechanoreceptor senses deep pressure and high-frequency vibration?

Pacinian corpuscle.

Which mechanoreceptor responds to stretch and warmth?

Ruffini ending.

Which mechanoreceptor detects fine, steady light touch?

Merkel’s disk (cell).

What connective tissue predominantly forms the dermis?

Dense irregular connective tissue.

Which experiment assesses vascular perfusion by measuring color return to a blanched fingernail?

Capillary refill time test.

What lab test compares the tactile acuity of different body regions using calipers?

Two-point discrimination test.

Which skin receptors are responsible for detecting temperature changes?

Thermoreceptors.

Which glands secrete earwax?

Ceruminous glands (modified apocrine glands).