Connective Tissue and Tissue Level of Organization Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering connective tissue classifications, cell types, extracellular matrix components, muscle and nervous tissues, body membranes, and tissue repair concepts.

Mesenchyme

An embryonic connective tissue that serves as the common tissue of origin for all mature connective tissues.

Extracellular matrix (ECM)

The non-living extracellular component of connective tissue, composed of protein fibers and ground substance, that binds cells together and determines tissue function.

Ground substance

Unstructured fluid material filling space between cells and fibers, containing interstitial fluid, cell adhesion proteins, and proteoglycans.

Collagen fibers

The most abundant and strongest extracellular fibers in connective tissue, providing high tensile strength.

Elastic fibers

Networks of long, thin elastin fibers that allow connective tissue to stretch and recoil.

Reticular fibers

Short, fine, highly branched collagenous fibers forming supportive networks that offer flexibility and structural stroma.

Fibroblast

An immature, mitotically active cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen fibers in connective tissue proper.

Fibrocyte

A mature connective tissue cell that contributes to tissue fibrosis by producing collagen following injury, disease, or aging.

Chondroblast

An immature, actively dividing cell found in growing cartilage that secretes ground substance and matrix fibers.

Chondrocyte

A mature cartilage cell that resides in a lacuna and maintains the surrounding cartilage matrix.

Osteoblast

An immature, mitotically active bone cell responsible for secreting bone matrix.

Osteocyte

A mature bone cell that maintains the mineralized matrix of bone tissue.

Adipocyte

A specialized fat cell containing lipid droplets that functions in nutrient storage, insulation, and protection.

Areolar connective tissue

A loose connective tissue with a gel-like matrix containing collagen, elastic, and reticular fibers; it wraps and cushions body organs.

Edema

An abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid beneath the skin or in body cavities, commonly occurring when inflamed areolar connective tissue absorbs fluid.

White Adipose Tissue (WAT)

A type of adipose tissue containing unilocular lipid droplets and sparse mitochondria, primarily serving as a site for energy storage.

Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT)

A vascularized and innervated adipose tissue containing multilocular lipid droplets and dense mitochondria, specialized to generate body heat in infants.

Reticular connective tissue

A loose connective tissue featuring a network of reticular fibers that forms a soft internal framework (stroma) supporting lymphoid organs like the spleen.

Dense regular connective tissue

A dense tissue composed primarily of parallel collagen fibers that resists high tensile stress when pulled in one direction, forming tendons and ligaments.

Dense irregular connective tissue

A dense tissue composed of irregularly arranged collagen fibers that withstands mechanical tension exerted from multiple directions, located in joint capsules and dermis.

Elastic connective tissue

A dense regular connective tissue enriched with elastic fibers, enabling recoil after stretching in large artery walls and bronchial tubes.

Hyaline cartilage

A resilient cartilage with an amorphous firm matrix and hidden collagen fibers, covering joint ends (articular cartilage) and forming rib connections (costal cartilage).

Elastic cartilage

A highly flexible cartilage containing abundant elastic fibers in its matrix, maintaining structural shape in the external ear and epiglottis.

Fibrocartilage

A cartilage containing thick collagen fibers that provides tensile strength to absorb compressive shock in intervertebral discs and the pubic symphysis.

Compact bone

A hard, calcified connective tissue matrix containing collagen fibers and osteocytes in lacunae that supports, protects, and provides levers for muscle movement.

Blood

A fluid connective tissue containing erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets within a liquid matrix called plasma, transporting gases, nutrients, and wastes.

Skeletal muscle tissue

A voluntary muscle tissue composed of long, cylindrical, striated, multinucleate cells that attach to bones or skin.

Cardiac muscle tissue

An involuntary, striated muscle tissue found exclusively in the heart wall, featuring branching uninucleate cells connected by intercalated discs.

Smooth muscle tissue

An involuntary, non-striated muscle tissue made of spindle-shaped cells with central nuclei, located in the walls of hollow organs.

Neuron

A branching nerve cell that transmits electrical signals from sensory receptors to effectors throughout the nervous system.

Cutaneous membrane

A dry epithelial membrane consisting of keratinized stratified squamous epithelium (epidermis) attached to a dermis layer, forming the skin.

Mucous membrane

An epithelial membrane lining body cavities that open directly to the exterior, such as the digestive and respiratory tracts.

Serous membrane

A moist epithelial membrane lining closed ventral body cavities, consisting of parietal and visceral layers separated by serous fluid.

Regeneration

A tissue repair mechanism where destroyed tissue is replaced by the same tissue type, restoring original structure and function.

Fibrosis

A tissue repair mechanism where destroyed tissue is replaced by dense fibrous connective tissue (scar tissue), leading to loss of original function.

Granulation tissue

A delicate, capillary-rich tissue formed during stage two of tissue repair that restores vascular supply and provides a collagen bridge across a wound.

Cardinal signs of inflammation

The five hallmark signs of the inflammatory response: heat (calor), redness (rubor), swelling (tumor), pain (dolor), and loss of function (functio laesia).