Animal Epithelia & Animal Tissues Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Animal Epithelia, Connective, Muscle, and Nerve tissues based on the Grade 10 Life Sciences curriculum.

Epithelial tissue

A type of tissue that covers or lines body cavities, organs, passages, and ducts.

Basement membrane

The structure on which all epithelial tissues are assembled.

Squamous epithelium

Exceptionally flat cells whose primary function is diffusion; they make up the alveoli of the lungs and the capillaries.

Columnar epithelium

Elongated cells with a nucleus at their base, primarily functioning in absorption and featuring a brush border of microvilli.

Goblet cells

Specialized cells that produce mucus to protect the lining of the intestine or trap dust and pathogens in the respiratory tract.

Ciliated epithelium

A compound tissue consisting of ciliated epithelial cells and goblet cells, responsible for clearing the respiratory tract and moving the egg along the fallopian tubes.

Cuboidal / Cubical epithelium

Roughly cube-shaped cells with a large central nucleus, primarily functioning in the secretion of substances; found in glands and kidney tubules.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Multilayered tissue where new cells are created by mitosis at the basal layer and flatten as they move away from the blood supply; found in the epidermis of the skin.

Connective tissue

Tissue that supports and joins other tissues in the body, consisting of different cells embedded in a matrix.

Areolar connective tissue

The most common tissue in the body, found under the skin and holding blood vessels in place; made of collagen and elastin fibres, fibroblasts, and mast cells.

Collagen fibres

Large, pink fibres in areolar connective tissue that provide strength.

Elastin fibres

Smaller, spidery fibres in areolar connective tissue that provide elasticity.

Fibroblasts

The cells responsible for making collagen and elastin fibres in connective tissue.

Mast cells

Dark stained cells in areolar tissue associated with the release of histamine.

Histamine

The chemical associated with inflammation in the body, released by mast cells.

Adipose tissue

Tissue where fat is stored; cells are distended with a large lipid droplet that pushes cytoplasm to the sides.

White fibrous tissue

Tissue that makes up the tendons (binding muscle to bone) and the cartilage discs in the spine.

Yellow elastic tissue

Tissue that makes up the ligaments (binding bone to bone) and the movable cartilage of the ears and nose.

Cartilage

Also called hyaline or articular cartilage, it is found on the ends of bones to help them articulate smoothly and forms rings around the trachea.

Chondrin

The name of the matrix found in cartilage.

Chondrocytes

Cartilage-making cells found sitting in the lacunae.

Lacunae

Pits or holes found in the matrix of cartilage or bone.

Haversian canal

The hollow canal in dense bone containing a nerve, an artery, and a vein.

Lamellae

The concentric layers of calcium and phosphate that surround the Haversian canal in bone.

Osteocytes

Bone-making cells found inside the lacunae of bone tissue.

Canaliculi

Small fissures or cracks in the calcium matrix of bone that allow oxygen and nutrients to reach osteocytes.

Osteoclasts

Cells responsible for breaking down or recycling bone.

Smooth muscle

Also known as involuntary muscle, it is responsible for movements like peristalsis in the gut.

Cardiac muscle

Muscle tissue found in the heart responsible for its lifelong pump action.

Skeletal muscle

Also known as voluntary or striated muscle; it is associated with all conscious movements and has a striped appearance.

Epimysium

The membrane that surrounds the entire muscle structure.

Perimysium

The membrane that surrounds each bundle of muscle fibres.

Sarcolemma

The cell membrane of a single muscle fibre (cell).

Neurons

Specialized cells of nervous tissue that transmit impulses around the body.

Sensory neuron

Neurons that carry impulses from sense receptors towards the central nervous system (CNS).

Interneuron

Neurons that convey impulses from sensory neurons to motor neurons within the spinal cord and brain.

Motor neuron

Neurons that carry impulses from the CNS towards an effector organ like a muscle or gland.

Dendrites

Cytoplasmic extensions of a neuron cell body that increase surface area to receive signals.

Axon

A long cytoplasmic extension of a neuron that transmits electrical impulses.

Schwann cells

Specialized cells that wrap around the axon to provide insulation and produce myelin.

Myelin sheath

A layer formed by Schwann cells along the axon that allows impulses to travel faster.

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps between Schwann cells on the axon where electrical impulses briefly slow down.

Synapse

The place where two neurons meet but do not touch, and where neurotransmitters are released.

Motor end plate

The ending of a motor neuron where an impulse is transferred into an effector organ, such as a muscle.