Anatomy and Physiology Lab 2: Tissues

Vocabulary flashcards covering epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue types, locations, cell shapes, and functional characteristics from the lab transcript.

Zygote

The fertilized oocyte that begins multiplying through cell division to form stem cells.

Primary Tissue Types

The four main types of tissue in the body: epithelium, nerve tissue, muscle tissue, and connective tissue.

Epithelium Germ Layer Origins

The unique tissue type that originates from all three embryonic germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

Epi-

A prefix meaning 'on top of' or 'covering'.

Simple Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of a single layer of cells.

Stratified Epithelium

Epithelial tissue consisting of two or more layers of the same type of cells.

Squamous Cell

A thin, flat epithelial cell that resembles a fried egg with a central nucleus.

Cuboidal Cell

An epithelial cell shaped like a cube with a proportionally centered nucleus.

Columnar Cell

An epithelial cell that is tall and thin, containing a tall and thin nucleus.

Apical Surface

The free or top surface of epithelial tissue where no other tissues or structures are attached.

Mitotic

Refers to cell division via mitosis; highly mitotic tissue multiplies and divides quickly.

Areolar Connective Tissue

The loose connective tissue type consistently found directly underneath epithelium to support it.

Basement Membrane

A glue-like substance produced by connective tissue that adheres epithelium to the underlying body structures.

Blister

A condition resulting from heat or friction breaking down the basement membrane glue, causing epithelium to detach.

Avascular

Meaning without blood vessels; epithelium lacks blood vessels directly running through it.

Cutaneous Membrane

The outer membrane covering the body, commonly known as the skin or epidermis.

Mucus Membrane

The inner lining of body cavities exposed to the external environment, such as the conjunctiva, respiratory, and digestive tracts.

Conjunctiva

The mucous membrane covering the eyeball.

Mucus

A lubricating mixture composed of mucin and water.

Serous Membrane

A double-layered membrane within ventral body cavities that produces lubricating fluid to reduce friction between moving organs.

Parietal Layer

The outer layer of a serous membrane that lines the cavity wall.

Visceral Layer

The inner layer of a serous membrane that directly covers an internal organ.

Pleura

The serous membrane surrounding the lungs.

Pericardium

The serous membrane surrounding the heart.

Peritoneum

The serous membrane lining the abdominopelvic cavity and surrounding its organs.

Neuron

The primary nerve cell responsible for generating and conducting electrical impulses.

Glial Cells

Supportive cells found alongside neurons primarily in the brain and spinal cord.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary, multinucleated, striated muscle attached to the skeleton that generates body movement.

Cardiac Muscle

Involuntary, uninucleated, striated muscle with branching cells found exclusively in the heart.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary, uninucleated, non-striated, spindle-shaped muscle found in hollow organs such as the stomach, uterus, and bladder.

Mesenchyme

The common embryonic stem cell from which all types of connective tissue originate.

Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

Non-cellular material secreted by connective tissue cells, composed of protein fibers and ground substance.

Ground Substance

A mineral or compound mixture secreted by cells into the extracellular matrix, such as calcium phosphate in bones.

Collagen Fiber

A very large, strong protein fiber in connective tissue that does not stretch.

Elastic Fiber

A small, coiled protein fiber that stretches.

Reticular Fiber

A very small protein fiber in connective tissue that helps anchor and hold blood cells.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of thin, flat cells specialized for rapid diffusion of gases, located in air sacs of lungs and blood vessels.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A single layer of cube-shaped cells specialized for secretion, primarily found in glands.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of tall, thin cells specialized for absorption, lining the digestive tract.

Goblet Cell

A specialized cell found within mucous membranes that produces mucin and mucus.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

A single layer of tall cells with cilia that falsely appears stratified; functions to move mucus across surfaces in the respiratory tract.

Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Thick, multi-layered flat epithelium that functions to protect against abrasion in areas like the skin, mouth, esophagus, and vagina.

Transitional Epithelium

Stratified tissue featuring rounded cells at the apical surface that stretch or distend, located in the urinary bladder.

Adipocyte

A fat cell that stores lipids representing stored energy, providing insulation and protection.

Dense Regular Connective Tissue

Avascular tissue containing parallel layers of collagen fibers that resist stretching; makes up tendons and ligaments.

Dense Irregular Connective Tissue

Compressive and stretchy tissue composed of collagen bundles wrapped in elastic fibers, found in the skin.

Chondrocyte

A specialized cell found in cartilage.

Lacuna

A tiny pocket or small space within cartilage or bone matrix where chondrocytes or osteocytes reside.

Hyaline Cartilage

The most common cartilage type, possessing a solid Jell-O-like matrix that provides support, protection, and shape in the nose, trachea, ribs, and joints.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage that acts as a shock absorber to resist compression, located in intervertebral discs, menisci of knee joints, and the pubic symphysis.

Elastic Cartilage

Highly flexible cartilage that maintains structural shape, located in the external ear (pinna) and epiglottis.

Osteocyte

A bone cell situated within a lacuna.

Osteon

The structural, tree-trunk-like circular unit characteristic of compact osseous (bone) tissue.

Erythrocyte

The technical term for a red blood cell, which functions to carry oxygen.

Hematopoietic Tissue

Connective tissue responsible for producing blood cells, including erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets.