Histology: Epithelium, Muscle, and Nervous Tissue

Vocabulary flashcards designed to review key terms associated with Histology, focusing on epithelial, muscle, and nervous tissues.

Histology

The study of tissues.

Cytology

The study of cells.

Tissue

A group of cells that work together to perform specific functions.

Epithelium

Tissue that covers body surfaces, lines cavities, and forms glands.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that connects and supports body parts and fills spaces.

Muscle Tissue

Excitable and contractible tissue that enables movement.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue composed of excitable communication cells.

Avascular

Referring to tissues that have no blood supply.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flat cells involved in absorption and filtration.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Multiple layers of cells that protect against abrasion and friction.

Goblet Cell

A type of epithelial cell that produces mucus.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated muscle tissue that is voluntary and multinucleated.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary muscle found in the heart, characterized by striations and intercalated discs.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle without striations, with large, central nuclei.

Axon

Long processes of a nerve cell that conduct impulses away from the cell body.

Dendrite

Short processes of a nerve cell that receive signals.

Excitable

Able to carry electric potentials.

Basement Membrane

Thin layer of extracellular matrix that supports epithelial cells.

Fibroblast

The most common cell type in connective tissue that secretes protein fibers like collagen.

Chondrocyte

A mature cell found within the lacunae of cartilage matrix.

Osteocyte

A mature bone cell that maintains the mineralized bone matrix.

Adipocyte

A specialized cell for the storage of fat, primarily located in adipose tissue.

Neuron

The primary functional cell of the nervous system, designed to transmit electrical signals.

Neuroglia

Supporting cells of the nervous system that provide nutrients, protection, and insulation to neurons.

Mast Cell

A cell found in connective tissue that initiates local inflammatory responses by releasing histamine.

Macrophage

A large phagocytic cell that moves through connective tissues to engulf pathogens and cellular debris.