Animal & Plant Tissues – Lecture Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering animal and plant tissue types, their structures, functions, and key cell types as presented in the lecture notes.

Tissue

A group of cells having similar structure and function.

Animal Tissue

One of the four major tissue categories in animals: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous.

Plant Tissue

Either meristematic (dividing) or permanent (differentiated) tissue found in plants.

Epithelial Tissue

Closely packed cells that cover body surfaces, line cavities, and form glands, providing protection, absorption, filtration, and secretion.

Simple Epithelium

A single layer of epithelial cells specialized for absorption, secretion, or diffusion.

Stratified Epithelium

Multiple layers of epithelial cells that primarily provide protection.

Squamous Cell

A flattened epithelial cell shape.

Cuboidal Cell

A cube-shaped epithelial cell.

Columnar Cell

A tall, column-like epithelial cell.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

Single layer of cube-like cells found in glands, kidney tubules, and ovaries; functions in secretion.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Single layer of tall cells with goblet cells; lines the digestive tract for secretion and active absorption.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

Single layer of flat cells that line lungs, capillaries, and body cavities for rapid diffusion.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Many layers of flat cells lining the mouth, esophagus, and vagina; protects against abrasion.

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Multiple layers of cube-shaped cells in sweat, salivary, and mammary glands; provides protection.

Stratified Columnar Epithelium

Multiple layers of columnar cells found in conjunctiva, pharynx, anus, uterus, male urethra, and vas deferens.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Single layer of varying-height cells, often ciliated, lining the respiratory tract for mucus movement, absorption, or secretion.

Connective Tissue

Tissue that joins body parts; cells are embedded in an extracellular matrix.

Extracellular Matrix

Jelly-like or solid material between connective-tissue cells composed of fibers and ground substance.

Blood

Fluid connective tissue with plasma, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets.

Plasma

Liquid extracellular matrix of blood containing water, salts, and proteins.

Erythrocyte (Red Blood Cell)

Blood cell that transports oxygen.

Leukocyte (White Blood Cell)

Blood cell that provides defense against pathogens.

Platelet

Cell fragment involved in blood clotting.

Bone

Mineralized connective tissue with osteoblasts depositing collagen combined with calcium, magnesium, and phosphate ions.

Osteoblast

Bone-forming cell that secretes collagen matrix.

Cartilage

Connective tissue with collagen fibers in chondroitin sulfate; cushions joints.

Chondrocyte

Cartilage cell that secretes collagen and chondroitin sulfate.

Connective Tissue Proper (CTP)

Includes loose (areolar, adipose) and dense (regular, irregular, elastic) connective tissues.

Areolar Tissue

Loose connective tissue filling spaces under skin and around organs; aids tissue repair.

Adipose Tissue

Loose connective tissue with adipocytes storing fat beneath skin and around organs.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Parallel collagen fibers in tendons and ligaments for strong attachment.

Ligament

Dense connective tissue that joins bone to bone, permitting movement.

Tendon

Dense connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone, enabling movement.

Muscle Tissue

Tissue composed of long contractile fibers enabling voluntary or involuntary movement.

Skeletal Muscle

Striated, voluntary muscle attached to bones for body movement.

Cardiac Muscle

Striated, involuntary heart muscle with intercalated discs for synchronized contraction.

Intercalated Disc

Specialized junction between cardiac muscle cells facilitating coordinated contraction.

Smooth Muscle

Non-striated, involuntary muscle in walls of organs and blood vessels.

Nervous Tissue

Tissue made of neurons and glial cells that senses stimuli and transmits electrical signals.

Neuron

Nerve cell specialized for conducting impulses.

Glial Cell

Support cell in nervous tissue aiding neurons.

Dendrite

Neuron extension that receives impulses from other cells.

Axon

Neuron extension that transmits impulses to other cells.

Meristematic Tissue

Plant tissue with continuously dividing cells at growth regions.

Apical Meristem

Meristem at tips of roots and stems responsible for lengthwise growth.

Lateral Meristem

Meristem along sides of stems and roots that increases girth.

Intercalary Meristem

Meristem at leaf bases and internodes allowing localized growth.

Permanent Tissue

Plant tissue derived from meristems that no longer divides and has a defined function.

Parenchyma

Simple permanent tissue of thin-walled, loosely packed cells for photosynthesis, storage, or buoyancy.

Collenchyma

Simple permanent tissue with unevenly thickened walls providing flexibility and support.

Sclerenchyma

Simple permanent tissue of dead, thick-walled cells with lignin, giving rigid support.

Complex Permanent Tissue

Plant tissue composed of multiple cell types for conduction; includes xylem and phloem.

Xylem

Vascular tissue with tracheids and vessels transporting water and minerals upward.

Tracheid

Elongated xylem cell aiding water conduction.

Vessel Element

Short, wide xylem cell forming continuous tubes (vessels) for water transport.

Phloem

Vascular tissue with sieve tubes and companion cells transporting food from leaves.

Sieve Tube

Phloem conducting cell lacking nucleus that moves sugars throughout the plant.

Companion Cell

Phloem cell assisting sieve tubes in nutrient transport.