lab 3 simple defs

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cell cycle phases, mitosis, cytokinesis, and histology concepts including epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissues.

Histology

The scientific study of tissues.

Tissue

A collection of cells and surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) that work together to perform a common function.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

The non-cellular material surrounding cells in a tissue, produced by the cells themselves, consisting of ground substance and protein fibers.

Ground Substance

A gelatinous component of ECM containing $H_2O$, ions, nutrients, polysaccharides, and proteoglycans that trap water to resist compression.

Collagen Fibers

Thick ECM protein fibers made of entwined strands of collagen that provide tensile strength to resist stretching forces.

Elastic Fibers

ECM protein fibers composed of elastin that provide distensibility (ability to stretch) and elasticity (ability to return to original shape).

Reticular Fibers

Thin, specialized collagen fibers that interweave to form supportive nets around blood vessels, nerves, and organs.

Basement Membrane

A structure composed of the basal lamina and reticular lamina that anchors epithelial tissue to underlying connective tissue.

Chondrocytes

Mature cartilage cells trapped within small cavities called lacunae that maintain the cartilage matrix.

Lacunae

Small cavities within the extracellular matrix that enclose mature cells such as chondrocytes in cartilage or osteocytes in bone.

Osteoblasts

Bone-building cells located in the periosteum that secrete the bone ECM.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells located in lacunae that maintain the mineralized bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Bone-resorbing cells in the periosteum that break down bone extracellular matrix.

Myocytes

Specialized muscle cells containing contractile protein filaments that contract to generate muscle tension.

Endomysium

Layer of ECM surrounding individual muscle cells that holds them together and transmits contractile force.

Intercalated Discs

Specialized cell junctions containing gap junctions that link cardiac muscle cells, allowing rapid electrical signal spread so the heart contracts as a unit.

Neuroglial Cells

Diverse, supportive cells in nervous tissue that nourish, protect, and assist neurons, capable of dividing by mitosis.

Chrondroblasts

Cells that build catilage

Hypertonic

Hypotonic

Isotonic

Same solute concentration on both sides of a s