Tissues and Connective Tissue Review

Flashcards covering the introduction to tissues, detailed epithelial tissue classifications and features, and an in-depth exploration of connective tissue types, components, and functions, including common disorders like Marfan syndrome.

Epithelial Tissue

One of the four basic tissue types; covers body surfaces, lines cavities and forms glands.

Connective Tissue

One of the four basic tissue types; supports, connects, protects, insulates, stores reserve fuel, and transports substances within the body.

Muscular Tissue

One of the four basic tissue types; responsible for movement.

Nervous Tissue

One of the four basic tissue types; responsible for communication and control.

Squamous Cells

Flat-shaped epithelial cells, good for transfer of substances, and produce serous fluid.

Cuboidal Cells

Cube-shaped epithelial cells that produce mucus.

Columnar Cells

Column-shaped epithelial cells that produce mucus.

Pseudostratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue where nuclei are at different heights, giving a stacked appearance, but it's typically one layer, often columnar.

Simple Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of multiple layers of cells, primarily for protection.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

The thickest epithelial tissue, with many layers of flat cells, providing protection from abrasion, found in the skin and moist linings.

Keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A type of stratified squamous epithelium containing keratin protein, which provides a waterproofing layer, found in the epidermis.

Non-Keratinized Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A type of stratified squamous epithelium found in moist linings like the esophagus and mouth, providing protection from abrasion without being waterproof.

Stratified Cuboidal Epithelium

Epithelial tissue typically with two layers of cuboidal cells, found protecting ducts and associated with glands (e.g., mammary, salivary, sweat glands).

Endocrine Glands

Ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the surrounding fluid to act on target tissues.

Exocrine Glands

Glands that have ducts to carry their products (e.g., milk, saliva, sweat, oil, mucus) to the surface of the epithelial tissue.

Basement Membrane

The bottom layer of epithelial tissue that anchors it to underlying connective tissue and acts as a selective filter for nutrients; it is composed of basal lamina and reticular lamina.

Microvilli

Finger-like projections on the apical surface of the plasma membrane of some epithelial cells, increasing surface area for absorption and transport, particularly in the small intestine and kidney.

Cilia

Whip-like, motile projections on the apical surface of some epithelial cells that move rhythmically to transport substances like mucus (respiratory tract) or eggs (female reproductive system).

Marfan Syndrome

A genetic disorder of connective tissue that weakens it over time, affecting structures like bones, cartilage, tendons, and blood vessel walls.

Mesenchyme

A loose and fluid type of embryonic tissue from which all connective tissues develop.

Extracellular Matrix

The nonliving material outside of and between cells in connective tissue, composed of ground substance and fibers, which largely determines the tissue's properties.

Ground Substance

The main part of the extracellular matrix, a watery, rubbery, unstructured material filling spaces between cells, protecting them, and made of starch and protein molecules mixed with water.

Collagen Fibers

The strongest and most abundant type of fiber in connective tissue, tough and flexible, providing high tensile strength (resistance to pulling apart).

Elastic Fibers

Longer, thinner, and branching fibers made of the protein elastin, allowing them to stretch and recoil like rubber bands, found in skin, lungs, and blood vessel walls.

Reticular Fibers

Short, finer collagen fibers with a glycoprotein coating, forming delicate sponge-like networks that cradle and support organs like the spleen and lymph nodes.

Blast Cells (e.g., Fibroblast, Chondroblast, Osteoblast)

Immature, 'builder' cells in connective tissue that are still dividing and actively secrete the ground substance and fibers that form their unique matrix.

Cyte Cells (e.g., Fibrocyte, Chondrocyte, Osteocyte)

Mature, less active cells in connective tissue that maintain the health of the matrix built by blast cells, and can revert to blast state for repair.

Macrophages

Large, phagocytic guard cells that patrol connective tissues, engulfing bacteria, foreign materials, and dead cells as part of the immune function.

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

Blood cells that scour the circulatory system fighting off infection; considered a type of connective tissue cell.

Connective Tissue Proper

One of the main classes of connective tissue, subdivided into loose and dense types.

Supportive Connective Tissue

One of the main classes of connective tissue, including cartilage and bone.

Fluid Connective Tissue

One of the main classes of connective tissue, including blood and lymph.

Areolar Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue proper, the most common and unspecialized, underlying all epithelial tissue, containing various fibers and immune cells to support and protect.

Adipose Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue proper composed of adipocytes (fat cells) that store lipids, providing reserve fuel, insulation, and organ protection, found widely distributed under the skin, around organs, and within muscles.

Reticular Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue proper forming a fine, mesh-like internal skeleton (stroma) within organs like lymph tissue, the spleen, and the liver.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

A type of dense connective tissue proper where collagen fibers are arranged parallel to resist tension in one direction, found in ligaments (bone to bone) and tendons (muscle to bone), and fascia.

Ligaments

Connective tissue structures composed of dense regular connective tissue that connect bone to bone.

Tendons

Connective tissue structures composed of dense regular connective tissue that connect muscle to bone.

Fascia

A sheet of dense regular connective tissue that binds muscles to other tissues or muscles around them.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

A type of dense connective tissue proper with interwoven collagen fibers, providing strength in multiple directions, found in the dermis of the skin and the fibrous capsules of joints.

Elastic Connective Tissue

A type of dense connective tissue proper rich in elastic fibers, allowing for significant stretching and recoiling, found in the walls of arteries and bronchial tubes.