Tissues and Tissue Types – Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissue concepts from the lecture notes.

Epithelial tissue

Tissue that lines the inside of hollow organs and body cavities or covers the outside of the body; also forms glands (glandular epithelium).

Connective tissue

Tissue that connects, binds, anchors, and protects; consists of cells plus an extracellular matrix and often fibers; the most widely distributed tissue in the body.

Muscular tissue

Tissue specialized for movement; includes skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle.

Nervous tissue

Tissue that conducts electrical impulses (action potentials); the wiring of the body.

Simple epithelium

A single layer of epithelial cells.

Stratified epithelium

Two or more layers of epithelial cells; provides protection.

Squamous epithelium

Epithelial cells that are flat and scale-like in shape.

Cuboidal epithelium

Epithelial cells that are cube-shaped; nuclei typically centered.

Columnar epithelium

Epithelial cells that are tall and column-like; nuclei near the basal surface.

Basal surface

The bottom surface of an epithelial cell that rests on the basement membrane.

Apical surface

The top (apex) surface of an epithelial cell.

Goblet cell

Mucus-secreting cell found in simple columnar and pseudostratified epithelia.

Cilia

Hair-like projections on some epithelial cells that move mucus and trapped debris.

Simple squamous epithelium

One cell layer of flat cells; rapid diffusion; found in alveoli and capillaries.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Multiple layers of flattened cells; designed for protection against mechanical stress; found in skin and mucous membranes.

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Single layer of cube-shaped cells; common in glands and ducts.

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

Two or more layers of cuboidal cells; found in some glands.

Simple columnar epithelium

Single layer of tall cells; often contains goblet cells; lines the digestive tract; may be ciliated in some locations.

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Appears multi-layered but is a single layer; nuclei at different heights; often ciliated with goblet cells; found in respiratory and some reproductive tracts.

Areolar connective tissue

Loose connective tissue found underneath the skin and around internal organs; contains a mix of collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers.

Dense regular connective tissue

Dense collagen fibers arranged in parallel; strong in one direction; forms tendons and ligaments.

Dense irregular connective tissue

Dense collagen fibers arranged irregularly; strong in multiple directions; found under the skin and surrounding organs.

Elastic connective tissue

Connective tissue with abundant elastic fibers; allows tissues like the aorta to stretch.

Reticular connective tissue

Network of reticular fibers with cells; found in spleen and lymph nodes to trap cells.

Bone tissue (osseous tissue)

Hard matrix with osteoblasts and osteocytes; supports and protects the body.

Hyaline cartilage

Cartilage with a semi-solid gel matrix; found at articular joints; contains chondroblasts and chondrocytes.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage with elastic fibers; flexible support in the nose and ears.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage with abundant collagen fibers; found in intervertebral discs and high-stress joints.

Cartilage matrix

Semi-solid gel-like extracellular matrix surrounding cartilage cells.

Osteoblasts

Bone-forming cells that create the bone matrix.

Osteocytes

Mature bone cells that maintain the bone matrix.

Chondroblasts

Cartilage-forming cells that become chondrocytes.

Chondrocytes

Mature cartilage cells embedded in the cartilage matrix.

Blood tissue

Connective tissue with a liquid matrix (plasma) containing red and white blood cells; transports substances and defends the body.

Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

Cells that carry oxygen via hemoglobin; lack a nucleus when mature.

White blood cells (leukocytes)

Immune cells that defend the body against infection.

Skeletal muscle

Muscle attached to bone; striated and voluntary; responsible for movement.

Cardiac muscle

In the heart; striated, branched, involuntary; connected by intercalated discs for rapid electrical conduction.

Smooth muscle

In the walls of hollow organs and vessels; non-striated and involuntary; contracts to move contents.

Myoblasts

Precursor muscle cells that fuse to form mature muscle fibers.

Intercalated discs

Special junctions between cardiac muscle cells that permit rapid electrical conduction.