HBIOT1011 Histology - Epithelium and Connective Tissue

Vocabulary flashcards covering epithelial types, glandular structure, extracellular matrix components, and specialized connective tissues based on the lecture transcript.

Histology

The visual study of tissue architecture and cells under a microscope, focusing on cell shape, nucleus, cytoplasm, and organization related to function and activity.

Four Basic Tissue Types

The primary categories of body tissues: epithelial tissue, connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nerve tissue (along with blood as a liquid tissue).

Epithelium

A tissue composed of cells with high mitotic activity that covers inner and outer body surfaces, forms glands, creates barriers, displays polarity, and anchors to a basement membrane.

Simple Epithelium

An epithelial layer consisting of a single layer of cells attached to the basement membrane.

Stratified Epithelium

An epithelial tissue consisting of two or more cell layers, where only the basal layer of cells is anchored to the basement membrane.

Basement Membrane

A connective tissue membrane located at the basal side of epithelial cells that anchors the cells and establishes top, side, and bottom cell polarity.

Apical Surface

The top surface of an epithelial cell that faces a free space or lumen and may feature specializations such as microvilli or cilia.

Microvilli

Microscopic apical cell surface extensions that increase surface area to enhance substance absorption.

Cilia

Hair-like structures on the apical surface of epithelial cells that function in surface transport.

Simple Squamous Epithelium

A single layer of flat epithelial cells providing a smooth, low-friction surface and a short distance for gas or fluid transport.

Endothelium

The simple squamous epithelial layer lining the internal surfaces of blood vessels.

Mesothelium

The simple squamous epithelial layer lining body cavities such as the pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

Epithelial cells with a central round nucleus and moderate volume, involved in secretion and absorption, found in structures like kidney tubules.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

Tall epithelial cells with a large volume and basally located elongated nuclei, specialized for production, uptake, transport, and exocytosis.

Pseudostratified Columnar Epithelium

Also called respiratory epithelium; an epithelial tissue where all cells touch the basement membrane, but nuclei lie predominantly in the basal two-thirds at varying heights.

Transitional Epithelium

Also known as urothelium; a stratified tissue located exclusively in the urinary tract, characterized by polyhedral middle cells and large, often binucleated umbrella cells at the surface.

Umbrella Cells

Large, often binucleated cells located on the apical surface of transitional epithelium in the urinary tract.

Exocrine Glands

Glands derived from surface epithelium that maintain surface connections and secrete products apically through ducts or directly onto surfaces.

Endocrine Glands

Glands that lose their connection to the surface epithelium and secrete products basally into the extracellular space to diffuse into the bloodstream.

Goblet Cells

Individual mucus-secreting epithelial cells in the intestine with basally located nuclei and pale cytoplasm.

Connective Tissue

A tissue type consisting of products produced and released by specific cells into the extracellular space to support and bind tissues together.

Fibroblast

An active connective tissue cell responsible for producing collagen fibers and fibrous connective tissue.

Extracellular Matrix

The non-cellular material of connective tissue composed of protein fibers (collagen, elastic, reticular) and gel-like ground substance.

Adipocyte

A fat cell featuring a large single lipid droplet, a thin ring of cytoplasm (signet ring appearance), and a flat nucleus.

Hyaline Cartilage

A type of cartilage containing a specialized collagen type, located in joints and respiratory tract walls.

Elastic Cartilage

A flexible cartilage containing abundant elastic fibers in addition to collagen fibers, found in the epiglottis and outer ear.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage containing the highest proportion of collagen fibers among cartilage types, found in intervertebral discs and the knee meniscus.

Osteoblasts

Bone cells responsible for synthesizing and producing bone matrix.

Osteoclasts

Bone cells responsible for breaking down bone tissue to regulate blood calcium homeostasis.