Histology, Cytology, and Cell Division Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering basic histology and cytology concepts across cell division, nervous, muscular, and epithelial tissue topics based on lecture notes.

Prophase

The phase of cell division during which chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes and the nuclear envelope begins to break down.

Metaphase

The phase of cell division in which duplicated chromosomes align along the equatorial metaphase plate of the cell.

Anaphase

The phase of cell division during which sister chromatids are separated and pulled toward opposite poles of the spindle apparatus.

Telophase

The final stage of mitosis during which daughter nuclei form around separated chromosomes at opposite cell poles, usually accompanied by cytokinesis.

Interphase

The non-dividing stage of the cell cycle during which the cell grows, performs normal metabolic functions, and replicates its DNA.

Mitosis, Onion Root Tip (400X)

A plant histology slide highlighting various stages of mitotic nuclear division in active plant meristematic tissue.

Neuron

The primary structural and functional cell unit of nervous tissue, composed of a cell body, dendrites, and an axon to transmit electrical signals.

Neuroglia

Non-conductive supporting cells of nervous tissue that protect, nourish, insulate, and assist neurons.

Axon

A long, single nerve fiber process that conducts nerve impulses away from the neuronal cell body toward target cells.

Node of Ranvier

Periodic unmyelinated gap along an axon between adjacent Schwann cells or oligodendrocytes where action potentials are regenerated.

Nervous Tissue (80X)

Histological view of neural tissue highlighting a multipolar neuron cell body with dendrites, an axon, nucleus, and surrounding neuroglia.

Dorsal Horn

The posterior projection of gray matter in the spinal cord that receives incoming sensory input.

Ventral Horn

The anterior projection of spinal cord gray matter that contains somatic motor neuron cell bodies.

Central Canal

A narrow, cerebrospinal fluid-filled channel located in the center of the spinal cord's gray commissure, lined by ependymal cells.

Gray Commissure

A crossbar of gray matter surrounding the central canal that connects the left and right sides of the spinal cord.

Ependymal Cells

Specialized neuroglial cells lining the central canal of the spinal cord and brain ventricles.

Spinal Cord (8X)

Low-power cross-sectional view of the spinal cord showing the central butterfly-shaped gray matter and surrounding white matter columns.

Dorsal Root Ganglion

A cluster of pseudo-unipolar sensory neuron cell bodies situated along the dorsal root of a spinal nerve, surrounded by satellite cells.

Satellite Cells

Glial cells that surround and support neuron cell bodies within sensory and autonomic ganglia.

Myenteric Plexus

An autonomic nerve plexus situated between the inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers of the gastrointestinal tract wall.

Skeletal Muscle Fiber

A long, cylindrical, multinucleated muscle cell under voluntary control that exhibits prominent transverse striations.

Sarcomere

The repeating functional contractile unit of a muscle myofibril, bounded on each end by a Z disc.

A Band

The dark anisotropic region within a muscle sarcomere consisting primarily of thick myosin filaments.

I Band

The light isotropic region within a muscle sarcomere consisting of thin actin filaments without myosin overlap.

Cardiac Muscle Tissue (40X)

Histological section of branching, striated, involuntary muscle cells connected by dark intercalated discs.

Intercalated Disc

A specialized cell junction connecting adjacent cardiac muscle cells that facilitates electrical synchronization and mechanical stability.

Smooth Muscle Tissue

Involuntary, non-striated muscle tissue composed of spindle-shaped cells with single central nuclei, located in the walls of visceral organs and blood vessels.

Neuromuscular Junction

The synaptic connection between a motor neuron axon terminal and the motor end plate of a skeletal muscle fiber.

Motor End Plate

The specialized folded region of the muscle fiber sarcolemma situated beneath the axon terminal at a neuromuscular junction.

Simple Columnar Epithelium, Small Intestine (160X)

Histological view showing a single layer of tall columnar cells with apical microvilli and interspersed mucus-secreting goblet cells.

Goblet Cell

A unicellular exocrine gland embedded in columnar epithelia that secretes mucus onto the epithelial surface.

Microvilli

Microscopic, finger-like membrane projections on the apical surface of absorptive columnar cells that increase effective surface area.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

An epithelial tissue that appears multi-layered due to nuclei positioned at different heights, but where every cell rests on the basement membrane; typically ciliated in the trachea.

Cilia

Motile, hair-like cell extensions on the apical surface of epithelial cells that sweep mucus and trapped particles across the luminal surface.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A multi-layered epithelial tissue with flattened superficial cells, adapted to protect underlying tissues from mechanical wear and abrasion.

Keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A specialized stratified squamous epithelium whose superficial layer consists of dead, flattened cells packed with keratin protein.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A single layer of cube-shaped cells with central round nuclei, lining structures such as kidney tubules for absorption and secretion.

Transitional Epithelium

A stratified epithelium featuring dome-shaped apical cells capable of stretching and flattening, characteristic of the urinary bladder lining.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flat, scale-like cells with flattened nuclei, optimized for rapid gas exchange, filtration, and diffusion.

Lamina Propria

A basement membrane-underlying layer of loose connective tissue that supports mucosal epithelial layers.