Tissues - HOLE’S Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology (Chapter 05)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key tissue types, cells, structures, membranes, glands, and muscle and nervous tissue concepts from Chapter 5.

Epithelial tissue

Tissues that cover body surfaces, line cavities and hollow organs, form glands; lack blood vessels; nourished by underlying connective tissue; cells tightly packed.

Connective tissue

Tissue that binds, supports, protects, fills spaces, stores fat, and produces blood cells; has abundant extracellular matrix; cells are relatively far apart.

Muscular tissue

Tissue that generates force through contraction to produce movement; three types: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac.

Nervous tissue

Tissue that conducts electrical impulses; contains neurons and neuroglia; coordinates body activities.

Basement membrane

Thin extracellular layer that anchors epithelial tissue to underlying connective tissue.

Apical surface

Free surface of epithelial cells exposed to outside or an open internal space.

Extracellular matrix

Noncellular component of connective tissue made of protein fibers and ground substance; supports cells and tissues.

Ground substance

Gel-like material surrounding cells in the extracellular matrix; fills spaces between fibers and cells.

Fibroblasts

Most common fixed cells in connective tissue; large, star-shaped; synthesize fibers.

Macrophages

Phagocytic cells that defend against infection and foreign particles by engulfing them.

Mast cells

Fixed cells near blood vessels that release heparin and histamine to promote inflammation.

Collagen fibers

Thick, strong white fibers with high tensile strength; provide support in connective tissue.

Elastic fibers

Flexible fibers made of elastin; allow tissues to stretch and recoil.

Reticular fibers

Thin collagen fibers forming delicate supportive networks in organs.

Chondrocyte

Cartilage cell that lives in a lacuna within the cartilage matrix.

Lacuna

Small cavity in bone or cartilage matrix housing a cell (osteocyte or chondrocyte).

Perichondrium

Dense connective tissue layer surrounding cartilage.

Hyaline cartilage

Most common cartilage with a glassy matrix; ends of bones and respiratory passages; forms embryonic skeleton.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage with elastic fibers; flexible; found in external ear and parts of the larynx.

Fibrocartilage

Tough cartilage with many collagen fibers; good shock absorber; intervertebral discs, knees, and pelvic girdle.

Osteocyte

Bone cell housed within a lacuna in compact bone.

Lamellae

Concentric rings of bone matrix around Haversian canals in compact bone.

Haversian canal

Central canal in an osteon containing blood vessels.

Osteon

Structural unit of compact bone (Haversian system).

Areolar tissue

Loose connective tissue forming thin membranes; fibroblasts; gel-like matrix; binds skin to underlying tissues.

Adipose tissue

Loose connective tissue that stores fat in adipocytes; cushions, insulates, stores energy.

Reticular connective tissue

Loose connective tissue with reticular fibers forming a 3D framework (liver, spleen).

Dense regular connective tissue

Dense tissue with parallel collagen fibers; strong; forms tendons and ligaments.

Dense irregular connective tissue

Dense tissue with collagen fibers in many directions; provides strength (dermis).

Elastic connective tissue

Dense connective tissue rich in elastic fibers; allows stretch and recoil (e.g., in arteries, certain ligaments).

Cartilage

Rigid connective tissue with a gel-like matrix; chondrocytes in lacunae; avascular; surrounded by perichondrium.

Bone (osseous tissue)

Rigid connective tissue with mineral salts; supports, protects, stores minerals; site of blood cell formation; osteocytes in lacunae; organized lamellae around central canals.

Blood

Connective tissue with formed elements (RBCs, WBCs, platelets) in plasma; transports substances.

Serous membrane

Epithelial membrane lining closed body cavities; simple squamous epithelium plus areolar tissue; secretes serous fluid; pleura, pericardium, peritoneum.

Mucous membrane

Epithelial membrane lining cavities open to outside; epithelium with goblet cells; secretes mucus.

Cutaneous membrane

Skin; dry membrane that is keratinized for protection and waterproofing.

Synovial membrane

Connective tissue membrane lining joints; secretes synovial fluid; lacks true epithelium.

Glands

Organs composed of epithelial tissue that secrete substances into ducts or body fluids.

Exocrine glands

Glands that secrete products into ducts that open to a body surface.

Endocrine glands

Glands that secrete products into body fluids or blood (no ducts).

Merocrine glands

Exocrine glands that release products by exocytosis (e.g., salivary, pancreatic, sweat glands).

Apocrine glands

Glands that release secretions with portions of their cell bodies; mammary and ceruminous glands.

Holocrine glands

Glands where entire cells disintegrate to release secretions (sebaceous glands).

Goblet cells

Mucus-secreting cells within mucous membranes.

Simple squamous epithelium

Single layer of flat cells; diffusion/filtration; alveoli, capillaries, membranes lining body cavities.

Simple cuboidal epithelium

Single layer of cube-shaped cells; lines kidney tubules and ducts; secretion and absorption.

Simple columnar epithelium

Single layer of tall cells; nuclei near basement membrane; may be ciliated or nonciliated; goblet cells; absorption and secretion.

Pseudostratified columnar epithelium

Appears layered but all cells touch basement membrane; often with cilia and goblet cells; lines respiratory passages.

Stratified squamous epithelium

Multiple cell layers; outermost layer is flattened; protection; keratinized in skin; non-keratinized in moist areas.

Stratified cuboidal epithelium

2–3 layers of cuboidal cells; lines ducts of glands (mammary, sweat, salivary, pancreas) and some ovarian follicles.

Stratified columnar epithelium

Several layers with surface cells columnar and basal cells cuboidal; rare; found in male urethra and large ducts.

Transitional epithelium

Stretchable epithelium that lines urinary bladder, ureters, and part of urethra; cells change shape with distension.

Micrographs

Photographs of tissue sections viewed under a microscope; show cross, oblique, or longitudinal sections.

Skeletal muscle tissue

Voluntary, striated muscle attached to bones; long cylindrical fibers; multiple nuclei.

Smooth muscle tissue

Involuntary, nonstriated muscle; spindle-shaped cells with a central nucleus; walls of hollow organs.

Cardiac muscle tissue

Involuntary, striated muscle of the heart; branched cells connected by intercalated discs; pumps blood.

Neuron

Nerve cell; contains soma, dendrites, and axon; transmits electrical impulses.

Neuroglia

Supportive cells in nervous tissue that nourish and protect neurons.

Dendrites

Extensions that receive signals from other neurons.

Axons

Extensions that transmit signals away from the neuron.

Intercalated discs

Specialized junctions between cardiac muscle cells that facilitate impulse conduction.