Connective, Nervous, and Muscle Tissues & Membranes

Flashcards covering different types of connective, nervous, and muscle tissues, along with tissue repair processes and body membranes derived from a lecture on human anatomy.

Dense Fibrous Connective Tissue

A type of connective tissue primarily composed of collagen fibers, providing strength and attachment.

Bone Connective Tissue

A type of connective tissue that forms the skeletal system, characterized by a hard matrix and responsible for support and protection.

Loose Connective Tissue

A type of connective tissue with loosely arranged fibers around cells, including areolar, adipose, and reticular tissues.

Reticular Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue characterized by interwoven, delicate protein fibers, found in lymphoid organs like lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow.

Adipose Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue specialized for fat storage, containing adipocytes. It provides insulation, cushion, and fuel storage.

Areolar Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue made of collagen and elastin fibers in a gel-like intercellular matrix. It is soft, surrounds and protects organs, and acts as a tissue glue.

Protein Fibers in Connective Tissue

Structural components of connective tissue, including collagen, reticular, and elastin fibers.

Collagen Fibers

Strong protein fibers, the main type found in dense fibrous tissue, tendons, and ligaments.

Tendons

Dense fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscles to bones.

Ligaments

Dense fibrous connective tissue that attaches bones to bones, forming joints.

Cartilage

A type of connective tissue that is solid, smooth, and rubbery, but not as hard as bone, used to avoid friction between bones.

Chondroblast

Immature cells that produce cartilage tissue.

Chondrocyte

Mature cartilage cells, developed from chondroblasts.

Perichondrium

A layer of connective tissue that covers most cartilage, supplying oxygen and nutrients via blood vessels.

Hyaline Cartilage

A type of cartilage found at the ends of long bones, in the sternum-rib connections, trachea, and nose, providing support and protection.

Fibrocartilage

A type of cartilage made of collagen and elastin fibers, found in intervertebral discs, knee pads, and the pubic bone, providing cushioning and protection.

Elastic Cartilage

A type of cartilage known for its flexibility and elasticity, found in the ear and parts of the larynx, providing support and framework.

Osteoblast

Immature bone cells responsible for building bones, secreting collagen, calcium salts, and other minerals.

Osteocyte

Mature bone cells, developed from osteoblasts.

Osseous Tissue

Another name for bone tissue.

Blood

A type of connective tissue consisting of cells (e.g., red blood cells) surrounded by a liquid intercellular matrix called plasma. It transports nutrients, hormones, and gases.

Plasma

The liquid intercellular matrix of blood, containing water, glucose, amino acids, and proteins, responsible for dissolving substances and transport.

Lymph

A fluid collected from tissues that is not absorbed back into circulation, flowing through lymphatic vessels. It is filtered in lymph nodes to remove foreign pathogens.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue that makes up the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves), responsible for carrying and processing signals.

Neurons

Cells in nervous tissue that transmit electrical signals throughout the body. They do not undergo mitosis.

Neuroglia

Support cells in nervous tissue (e.g., astrocytes, microglia, Schwann cells) that do not carry signals but support and take care of neurons. They can multiply, unlike neurons.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty covering around the axon of a neuron that helps accelerate the speed of impulse transmission.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue composed of specialized cells (muscle fibers) that contract and shorten, responsible for causing movement of body parts.

Muscle Fiber

Another term for a muscle cell, referring to its long, slender shape.

Skeletal Muscle

Muscle tissue attached to bones, characterized by being long, slender, striated, and multinucleated. It is responsible for voluntary movement and maintaining posture.

Smooth Muscle

Muscle tissue found in the walls of visceral organs (e.g., stomach, intestines, urinary bladder, bronchioles, blood vessels). It is not striated and responsible for involuntary movements like churning food or propelling blood.

Cardiac Muscle

Muscle tissue found exclusively in the heart, characterized by branching, striated cells, and intercalated discs. It is responsible for the rhythmic pumping of blood and rapid electrical signal conduction.

Intercalated Disc

Specialized junctions between cardiac muscle cells that allow for rapid conduction of electrical signals throughout the heart.

Regeneration (Tissue Repair)

The process of replacing damaged tissue with new cells, typically via mitosis, to restore original function.

Fibrosis (Tissue Repair)

The replacement of injured tissue with fibrous connective tissue, resulting in scar formation. Occurs in tissues that cannot regenerate (e.g., muscle, nervous tissue).

Keloid

An excessive replacement of injured tissue with fibrous connective tissue, resulting in a raised scar.

Membranes

Thin sheets of tissue that cover surfaces, line body cavities, and surround organs.

Epithelial Tissue Membrane

A classification of membranes including cutaneous, mucous, and serous membranes, composed primarily of epithelial tissue.

Connective Tissue Membrane

A classification of membranes including synovial membrane, periosteum, perichondrium, meninges, and fascia, composed primarily of connective tissue.

Cutaneous Membrane

An epithelial tissue membrane more commonly known as the skin.

Mucous Membrane

An epithelial tissue membrane that lines body cavities open to the exterior (e.g., respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive tracts). It absorbs, secretes mucus for lubrication, and protects.

Serous Membrane

An epithelial tissue membrane that lines body cavities not open to the exterior and covers organs within those cavities (e.g., pleura, pericardium, peritoneum). It consists of visceral and parietal layers with fluid in between to prevent friction.

Pleura (Serous Membrane)

The serous membrane surrounding the lungs, consisting of a visceral layer (attached to lung) and a parietal layer (attached to thoracic cavity), with pleural fluid in between.

Pericardium (Serous Membrane)

The serous membrane surrounding the heart, consisting of a visceral layer (attached to heart) and a parietal layer, with pericardial fluid in between.

Peritoneum (Serous Membrane)

The serous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering abdominal organs (e.g., intestines), consisting of visceral and parietal layers with peritoneal fluid in between.