Tissue, The Living Fabric

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering primary tissue types, epithelial tissue classifications, connective tissue forms, muscle tissues, and nervous tissue components based on lecture notes.

Tissue

A group of cells that are similar in structure and perform a similar or related function.

Division of Labor

The structural and functional specialization of cell communities (tissues) in multi-cellular organisms to carry out specific functions.

Primary Tissue Types

The four fundamental tissue classifications: epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue.

Apical Surface

The cell surface of an epithelium that opens or faces toward the exterior of the body or an internal body cavity.

Basal Surface

The surface of epithelial cells that attaches to the underlying basal lamina.

Basement Membrane

A supportive layer reinforcing epithelium, composed of the basal lamina and reticular lamina.

Simple Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue composed of several stacked layers of cells.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flattened cells with disc-shaped nuclei and sparse cytoplasm; facilitates passage of materials via diffusion and filtration, and secretes lubricating substances in serosae.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A single layer of cube-like cells with central spherical nuclei; functions in secretion and absorption, found in kidney tubules, small gland ducts, and ovarian surfaces.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of tall cells with oval nuclei, sometimes bearing cilia or goblet cells; functions in absorption, secretion of mucus and enzymes, and ciliary propulsion.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of cells of differing heights with nuclei at different levels, creating a false stratified appearance; functions in mucus secretion and ciliary propulsion.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

A multi-layered tissue with columnar/cuboidal basal cells undergoing mitosis and flattened surface cells; protects underlying tissues from friction and injury.

Transitional Epithelium

An epithelial tissue with columnar/cuboidal basal cells and surface cells that stretch from dome-shaped to squamous-like to permit distention in urinary organs.

Mesenchyme

The embryonic tissue from which all types of connective tissue arise.

Areolar Connective Tissue

A type of loose connective tissue with a gel-like matrix containing collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers, along with fibroblasts, macrophages, mast cells, and white blood cells.

Adipose Tissue

A loose connective tissue containing closely packed fat cells with nuclei displaced by large fat droplets; functions in fat storage, thermal insulation, and organ support.

Reticular Tissue

A loose connective tissue featuring a network of reticular fibers and reticular cells that form a supportive stroma in lymphoid organs.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Tissue composed primarily of parallel collagen fibers with a few elastin fibers and fibroblasts; withstands high tensile stress in tendons and ligaments.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Tissue composed of irregularly arranged collagen fibers with elastin fibers and fibroblasts; provides structural strength to withstand tension in joint capsules.

Elastic Connective Tissue

Dense connective tissue rich in elastin fibers; allows recoil of tissue after stretching, aiding in arterial blood flow pulsation and lung recoil.

Hyaline Cartilage

Cartilage with an amorphous matrix and fine collagen network containing chondrocytes in lacunae; provides support and cushioning at joint ends, nose, trachea, and larynx.

Chondrocytes

Cartilage-producing cells that reside inside spaces called lacunae once mature.

Elastic Cartilage

Cartilage similar in structure to hyaline cartilage but containing significantly more elastic fibers, providing shape and flexibility to the external ear and epiglottis.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage containing thick collagen fibers within its matrix; provides tensile strength and absorbs compressive shock in intervertebral discs and knee joints.

Bone Tissue

A rigid, highly vascular connective tissue with a calcified matrix containing collagen fibers and osteocytes in lacunae; serves in body support, mineral storage, and hematopoiesis.

Blood Tissue

A fluid connective tissue consisting of cellular elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets) suspended in a non-living liquid matrix called plasma.

Neurons

Specialized nerve cells consisting of a cell body, axon, and dendrites that transmit electrical impulses throughout the nervous system.

Neuroglia

Non-conducting supporting cells in nervous tissue that protect, nourish, and insulate neurons.

Astrocytes

A class of neuroglial cells that provide structural support, nutrient transport, and storage functions for neurons.

Oligodendrocytes

Neuroglial cells in the central nervous system responsible for forming myelin sheaths around axons.

Microglial Cells

Neuroglial cells that function as phagocytes to clean up debris and pathogens in nervous tissue.

Ependymal Cells

Neuroglial cells that produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary, striated muscle tissue attached to bones by tendons, featuring long cylindrical fibers with multiple peripheral nuclei.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary, striated muscle found in the myocardium, containing branched fibers with central nuclei and intercalated discs with gap junctions.

Intercalated Discs

Specialized junctional complexes containing gap junctions that join cardiac muscle cells longitudinally to synchronize cardiac contractions.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary, non-striated muscle tissue composed of spindle-shaped cells with a single central nucleus, located in walls of hollow visceral organs.